Anna Campbell
{{Short description|British anarcha-feminist (1991–2018)}}
{{for|other people with similar names|Anne Campbell (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
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{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Anna Campbell
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| native_name =
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| birth_name = Anna Montgomery Campbell
| other_name = Hêlîn Qereçox
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| birth_date = 1991
| birth_place = Lewes, East Sussex, England
| disappeared_date =
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| death_date = {{death date|2018|03|15|df=y}} (aged 26)
| death_place = Afrin District, Syria
| death_cause = Turkish airstrike
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| allegiance = {{flagicon image|Flag of Rojava.svg}}{{flagicon image|De facto SA-NES Flag.svg}} Democratic Federation of Northern Syria
| branch = {{flagicon image|YPJ Flag.svg|border=no}} YPJ
| branch_label = Branch
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| known_for = Fighting with the YPJ in the Rojava conflict
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| alma_mater = University of Sheffield
| spouse =
| children =
| relations = Dirk Campbell (father)
Katherine Emma "Adrienne Katie" Bridges (mother)
| laterwork = Plumber, anarchist, feminist, prison abolition activist
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{{Anarcha-feminism sidebar|people}}
Anna Montgomery Campbell (1991 – 15 March 2018), also known by her Kurdish name Hêlîn Qereçox,{{efn|Pronounced {{IPA|ku|heˈlin qæræˈt͡ʃox|}}. Hêlîn means nest in Kurdish. Qereçox is a name of a mountain near the Semalka Border Crossing.{{cite web|author=Arîn|url=https://internationalistcommune.com/letter-to-helin/|title=Letter to Helin|date=20 March 2018|website=Internationalist Commune of Rojava|access-date=14 October 2024|archive-date=2 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202231056/https://internationalistcommune.com/letter-to-helin/|url-status=live}}}} was a British feminist, anarchist and prison abolition activist who fought with the Women's Protection Units (YPJ) in the Rojava conflict of the Syrian civil war. She was killed in Rojava by a Turkish Armed Forces missile strike.
Family and early life
Campbell was born in Lewes, East Sussex, England, the daughter of progressive rock musician Dirk Campbell.{{cite web |last1=Martin |first1=Laura |title=Anna Campbell: What happened to the woman from East Sussex who went to fight Isis in Syria |url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/anna-campbell-the-woman-who-went-to-fight-isis-bbc-two-what-happened-syria-east-sussex-499761 |website=i |accessdate=21 December 2019 |date=25 June 2019 |archive-date=21 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221172622/https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/anna-campbell-the-woman-who-went-to-fight-isis-bbc-two-what-happened-syria-east-sussex-499761 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/01/anna-campbell-father-no-right-to-stop-her-fighting-syria-kurds|title=Anna Campbell's father: 'I don't think I had any right to stop her fighting in Syria'|last=Blake|first=Matt|date=2018-04-01|work=The Guardian|access-date=2018-04-02|language=en-GB|archive-date=2019-04-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405113239/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/01/anna-campbell-father-no-right-to-stop-her-fighting-syria-kurds|url-status=live}} Her mother was Katherine Emma "Adrienne Katie", born Bridges, her father's second wife.{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=David |date=2012-11-08 |title=Adrienne 1960–2012 |url=https://www.dirkcampbell.co.uk/adrienne |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929072009/https://www.dirkcampbell.co.uk/adrienne |archive-date=2020-09-29 |access-date=2020-11-08 |website=Dirk Campbell}}
She was educated at St Mary's Hall, Brighton, then went to study at University of Sheffield before moving to Bristol, where she worked as a plumber and in the local radical bookshop Hydra Bookshop.{{Cite news |last1=Gibbons |first1=Katie |last2=Spencer |first2=Richard |date=2018-03-18 |title=Anna Campbell killed fighting alongside female Kurdish unit in Syria |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/anna-campbell-killed-fighting-alongside-female-kurdish-unit-in-syria-6n577pxl0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210717181330/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/anna-campbell-killed-fighting-alongside-female-kurdish-unit-in-syria-6n577pxl0 |archive-date=2021-07-17 |work=The Sunday Times |language=en |issn=0140-0460}} Campbell was involved with many political actions, including the 2010 United Kingdom student protests, the Hunt Saboteurs Association, and was involved in supporting the Irish Travellers at Dale Farm who were resisting their eviction in 2011. She was involved in various anarchist and abolitionist organisations and projects, including the Anarchist Black Cross and ZAD de Notre-Dame-des-Landes.{{cite web |date=19 March 2018 |title=Rest in Power Anna |url=http://www.prisonabolition.org/rest-power-anna/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329210325/http://www.prisonabolition.org/rest-power-anna/ |archive-date=29 March 2019 |accessdate=21 March 2018 |website=Empty Cages Collective}}
Involvement in the Rojava conflict
During the Rojava conflict, Campbell fought with the YPJ in the Deir ez-Zor campaign, an attack on the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant stronghold of Deir ez-Zor. She was also involved in the YPJ's activities in support of women's rights in Kurdistan. According to The New York Times, she was moved by the defence of "an autonomous, mostly Kurdish region in northern Syria, known as Rojava, whose leaders advocate a secular, democratic and egalitarian politics, with equal rights for women".{{Cite news |last=Pérez-Peña |first=Richard |date=2018-03-19 |title=Drawn to a Cause, British Woman Dies Fighting Alongside Kurds in Syria |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/19/world/middleeast/anna-campbell-syria-ypj-kurds.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329172732/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/19/world/middleeast/anna-campbell-syria-ypj-kurds.html |archive-date=2019-03-29 |access-date=2018-03-28 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}
Death
Campbell was killed by a Turkish Armed Forces missile strike during the Turkish military operation in the Afrin Canton, Operation Olive Branch.{{cite web |last=Blake |first=Matt |date=2018-03-19 |title=British woman killed fighting Turkish forces in Afrin |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/19/briton-kurds-anna-campbell-dies-fighting-turkey-syria-afrin |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428151028/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/19/briton-kurds-anna-campbell-dies-fighting-turkey-syria-afrin |archive-date=2019-04-28 |access-date=2018-03-30 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}{{cite web |last=Norton |first=Alexander |date=2018-03-20 |title=I fought with the YPG and I'm upset by the patronising reaction to Anna Campbell's death |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/anna-campbell-death-syria-afrin-kurdish-fought-with-ypj-ypg-reaction-a8265176.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406120252/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/anna-campbell-death-syria-afrin-kurdish-fought-with-ypj-ypg-reaction-a8265176.html |archive-date=2019-04-06 |access-date=2018-03-30 |website=The Independent |language=en-GB}} The YPJ announced:{{cite web |date=2018-03-19 |title=British woman killed while fighting in Syria was 'fearless and noble' |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/uk-news/2018/03/19/british-woman-killed-while-fighting-in-syria-was-fearless-and-noble/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715103959/https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/uk-news/2018/03/19/british-woman-killed-while-fighting-in-syria-was-fearless-and-noble/ |archive-date=2020-07-15 |access-date=2020-07-14 |website=Shropshire Star}}{{cite web |date=2020-03-15 |title=Memorial for YPJ martyr Anna Campbell in London |url=https://anfenglishmobile.com/women/memorial-for-ypj-martyr-anna-campbell-in-london-42304 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714224653/https://anfenglishmobile.com/women/memorial-for-ypj-martyr-anna-campbell-in-london-42304 |archive-date=2020-07-14 |access-date=2020-07-14 |website=ANF News}}{{cite web |last=Sweeney |first=Steve |date=2019-10-26 |title=Bring Anna Home |url=https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/f/bring-anna-home |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714224412/https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/f/bring-anna-home |archive-date=2020-07-14 |access-date=2020-07-14 |website=Morning Star}}
{{blockquote|Our British comrade Hêlîn Qereçox (Anna Campbell) has become the symbol of all women after resisting against fascism in Afrin to create a free world. We promise to fulfill Hêlîn’s struggle and honour her memory in our fight for freedom.}}
Legacy
Following the announcement of Campbell's death, her father started a campaign to recover her body, which could not be located by aid organisations until a ceasefire was in place in the area.
{{Cite news |last=Warburton |first=Dan |date=2018-03-24 |title=Dad of a Brit killed fighting ISIS launches desperate bid to bring home her body |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/father-brit-woman-killed-syria-12245513 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329172648/https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/father-brit-woman-killed-syria-12245513 |archive-date=2019-03-29 |access-date=2018-03-27 |work=Daily Mirror}}
Dirk Campbell accused the British government of 'a total lack of proactivity' in helping to recover her body,{{Cite news |last=Evans |first=Martin |date=2018-03-21 |title=Father of British woman killed in Syria demands more help to repatriate her body |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/03/21/father-british-woman-killed-syria-demands-help-repatriate-body/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329172631/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/03/21/father-british-woman-killed-syria-demands-help-repatriate-body/ |archive-date=2019-03-29 |access-date=2018-03-27 |work=The Daily Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}
{{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Matty |date=2022-05-19 |title='Help me bring my daughter's body home': Dad of Anna Campbell speaks out |url=https://thebristolcable.org/2022/05/anna-campbell-dad-help-me-bring-my-daughters-body-home/ |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=The Bristol Cable |language=en-GB}}https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-61242351
In an interview published on 3 November 2024, Dirk Campbell said that although there would be nothing left of her body by now, he was still pursuing action against Turkey for its failure to return the remains as required by the Geneva Convention and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The case had been taken to the European Court of Human Rights, but the process was lengthy, and had been sent back to Turkish courts at Hatay. After six and a half years after Anna’s death, he was not much further forward.
{{cite web | title=Father of British fighter battles Turkey for her remains in quest for justice | date=3 Nov 2024 | publisher=Medyanews | first=Özgür | last=Politika |
url=https://medyanews.net/father-of-british-fighter-battles-turkey-for-her-remains-in-quest-for-justice-2/}}
In response to Campbell's death there were various protests around the world, protesters from the Bristol Kurdish Solidarity Network (BKSN) and friends of Campbell blocked the offices of BAE Systems in Bristol, the city Anna lived in previously. Activists accused the company of supplying weapons to Turkey which have been used against civilians in Rojava.{{Cite news |last=Cork |first=Tristan |date=2018-03-23 |title='Anna is with us' – Protest blockades BAE office over death of activist |url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/protestors-blockade-bae-systems-office-1376693 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329172731/https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/protestors-blockade-bae-systems-office-1376693 |archive-date=2019-03-29 |access-date=2018-03-27 |work=Bristol Post}} Another protest in Bristol was held a year after Anna's death, with protestors blocking a large roundabout.{{Cite web |last1=Grimshaw |first1=Emma |last2=Chipperfield |first2=Daniel |date=2019-03-16 |title=LIVE: Large police presence as protests block busy Bristol roundabout |url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/live-large-police-presence-protests-2653693 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129071224/https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/live-large-police-presence-protests-2653693 |archive-date=2020-11-29 |access-date=2021-03-04 |website=Bristol Post |language=en}} Graffiti has also sprung up in the city showing solidarity, particularly in the Easton and St Pauls where many of the anarchist projects she was part of are based.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Joseph |date=2018-03-24 |title=Graffiti, signs and messages of love for Anna Campbell spring up across Bristol |url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/graffiti-signs-messages-love-anna-1379952 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118165810/https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/graffiti-signs-messages-love-anna-1379952 |archive-date=2021-01-18 |access-date=2021-03-04 |website=Bristol Post |language=en}}
A Turkish woman, Peri Pamir, was twice convicted for "creating propaganda for a terrorist organisation" after sharing a Guardian article about Campbell on Facebook in 2018.
{{cite web |last=Michaelson |first=Ruth |date=25 Nov 2024 |title=Turkish woman convicted under anti-terror laws for sharing Guardian article |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/25/turkish-woman-convicted-under-anti-terror-laws-for-sharing-guardian-article |website=The Guardian |publisher=}}
References
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Notes
{{Notelist}}
Further reading
{{refbegin}}
- {{Cite web |last1=Dearden |first1=Lizzie |last2=Osborne |first2=Samuel |title=British woman killed while fighting with an all-female Kurdish militia in Syria |work=The Independent |date=2018-03-19 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/british-woman-killed-syria-anna-campbell-lewes-east-sussex-fighting-all-female-kurdish-militia-a8262831.html |language=en |access-date=2021-10-03 |archive-date=3 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003034538/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/british-woman-killed-syria-anna-campbell-lewes-east-sussex-fighting-all-female-kurdish-militia-a8262831.html |url-status=live }}
- {{Cite news |last1=Gibbons |first1=Katie |title=Anna Campbell's family: 'We were seven, until she went to Syria' |work=The Sunday Times |date=2018-03-29 |url=https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/article/anna-campbells-family-wewere-seven-until-she-wenttosyria-l05rvxdlg |language=en |issn=0140-0460 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210717181334/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/anna-campbells-family-wewere-seven-until-she-wenttosyria-l05rvxdlg |archive-date=2021-07-17 |url-status=live }}
- {{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43453292|title=Briton killed fighting with Kurdish unit|last=Vardy|first=Emma|date=2018-03-19|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-03-27|language=en-GB|archive-date=2019-04-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409222936/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43453292|url-status=live}}
- Immortal : mourning, martyrs & murals, 2019, {{ISBN|978-1-78972-016-7}}
{{refend}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Campbell, Anna}}
Category:Military personnel killed in the Syrian civil war
Category:Alumni of the University of Sheffield
Category:People's Defense Units
Category:Deaths by Turkish airstrikes during the Syrian civil war