I first meet Aysenur Ezgi Eygi last May for one student camp for United States. We dey there to show support for Palestine and stand against wetin Israel dey do for Gaza for University of Washington. That time, Ayse na one of the leaders wey dey carry the student movement for head.
This young Turkish-American girl get strong mind to fight for justice for Palestinians and other causes during her university days and even after she finish school. As life carry us together to fight for freedom for Palestinian people, the Ayse wey I sabi na better person - she dey nice, kind, and she be brave leader wey no dey fear. At 26 years old, she be person wey dey friendly, get plenty friends, always dey smile and carry positive energy.
Ayse no dey tire to help people or check on her friends - to know how dem dey or whether dem need help, even when she dey busy or get plenty things for her hand.
Equality for everybody
One thing wey I remember about Ayse na her strong drive. She sabi balance am with her sense of humor, always dey try make people happy. But when e reach her activism, she dey serious well well.
Her social conscience make her spend plenty time dey organize things. Ayse love Palestine well well and she play big role for planning things for the university camps - she dey connect students and university management together. She do all these things while she still dey study hard to get better grades so she fit graduate from University of Washington.
Ayse believe say justice no be only to fight for Palestinian cause, but to fight for equality for everybody. Her journey as young activist carry her go different places. Some years back, she travel go Myanmar to see wetin dey happen to Rohingya people for Southeast Asia.
For US, for Seattle wey she don call her home since she leave Antalya for Turkey when she small, Ayse still dey active for racial justice. She join Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and other things.
Ayse na honest person; she dey do things from her heart and with plenty love, no matter wetin e go cost her. I remember how she love life and how she dey excited about continuing her education and visiting the occupied West Bank.
West Bank visit
Ayse really wan go West Bank to see wetin dey happen for ground and how Palestinians dey suffer under military occupation since 1967. Since Israel attack Palestinians last October, dem don kill more than 41,000 people, mostly women and children. For occupied West Bank, Israel don kill almost 700 people and injure more than 5,700 others.
For our chats, Ayse tell me how her papa and other university professors dey fear for her safety there. But she no gree. She still wan go West Bank to support Palestinian resistance and see wetin dey happen with her own eyes, so she fit come back and tell the world the truth wey dem dey try hide.
Ayse sabi say e dey dangerous, but she no care. She wan stand with Palestinians wey dey face genocide while the world dey look away. She follow other peace activists from International Solidarity Movement (ISM) to show the world the reality of Israel occupation.
My last call with Ayse na few hours before she die. We talk for more than two hours. She tell me how terrible the occupation be and how hard life dey for Palestinians. She share her experience and the stories of people wey dey suffer under occupation.
Life under occupation
For occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, checkpoints dey everywhere. Palestinians dey face apartheid and danger every day. Many people dey shot or killed for no reason. My Palestinian friends dey suffer for this, with checkpoints, threats to their homes, and long waits.
During our call, Ayse tell me how Israeli soldiers no allow her enter Al-Aqsa Mosque. Dem collect her passport for border, delay her, and question her before dem allow her enter.
We go always remember Ayse, person wey fight for justice and Palestinian freedom till her death. We no go forget her. The world no go forget her. We go continue the fight till the occupation end.
Legacy
Before her death, Ayse don plan to meet my family for Hebron, but that no happen. Her legacy na to bring people together. In her memory, community organizers and justice groups go gather to continue her fight for justice and equality.
