The Women Defend Rojava campaign released a statement on the occasion of the 13th anniversary of the Rojava Revolution, saying the following:
“Thirteen years ago, a revolution began in North and East Syria that has fundamentally changed life and society in the region. As the uprisings in Syria began, the Kurdish people seized their historic opportunity to organise themselves into communes and councils in the Kurdish-majority region of Rojava (Western Kurdistan). In doing so, they laid the foundations for a continually evolving democratic self-administration based on Abdullah Öcalan’s concept of the Democratic Nation.
Supported by the region’s long-standing Kurdish women’s movement, women in particular organised themselves into a leading force in this revolution. They formed autonomous structures and established women’s councils, academies, and institutions to further their education and, above all, successfully combat patriarchal mentality in all areas of society. Together, they ensured that all structures were equally led by co-chairs, and that at least 50% in all decision-making bodies were women. They developed women’s principles and family laws, and are now working on a women’s social contract.
They established self-defence structures, thereby developing their own ideological and military strength and beauty. Through great sacrifice, they have managed to defend the region’s people and the women’s revolution against one of the darkest forces of the 21st century: ISIS.
In Rojava, Kurdish women are not the only ones fighting for their freedom. Just as all population groups in North and East Syria administer themselves autonomously based on a common social contract, so have Arab, Armenian, Assyrian and Yazidi women established their own organisations and defence structures. Within their communities, they have become pioneers in building a democratic, ecological society based on women’s freedom.
Today, we remember both the beginnings of this revolution and the many heroic women who have given their lives for this revolution and its achievements over the past 13 years.
Bêrîvan Qelender, Silava Afrin, Peyman Tolhildan, Rêvan Rojava, Arîn Mirkan, Barîn Kobanê, Helîn Qereçox, Hevrîn Xalaf, Zehra Berkel, Viyan Kobanê, Jiyan Tolhildan, Zeyneb Mihemmed, Sorxwîn Rojhilat, Zozan Hemo and Kerem Ehmed are just a few of these.
Their names are well known and stand as examples of the thousands who lost their lives fighting ISIS, jihadist gangs, or in targeted Turkish drone strikes. ISIS was defeated in 2019, at least geographically. However, its mentality still poses a threat to the idea of a democratic society, as well as to all people in the region and worldwide.
Syria as a whole is currently facing new challenges. With the fall of the Baʿath regime in December 2024, a chauvinistic-nationalist system that had kept its population in chains for decades was overcome. This opens up the possibility of breaking new ground and offers Syria’s diverse population – including Arabs, Kurds, Assyrians, Armenians, Circassians, Turkmen, Alawites, Yazidis and Druze – the chance to jointly reshape the country’s future. After twelve years of bloody civil war, it is time to reject the mentality of division and embark on a path towards peace, democracy, and equality. The achievements of the revolution in North and East Syria could provide valuable examples for this process.
The current transitional government, led by Al-Sharaa (also known as Jolani), has once again chosen the path of oppression and forced unification. Syria’s diverse population and religious communities receive no recognition, as do the voices of women. Following in the tradition of the Islamic State, the new government propagates a jihadist Sunni identity and misogynistic mentality, forcing these on the people. The ongoing massacres of the Alawite community in the coastal regions and the recent attacks on the Druze community in Suwayda clearly demonstrate that this path will not bring peace to Syria’s people.
To this day, the international hegemonic powers continue to protect this policy, as their economic and geopolitical interests in the Middle East can be better enforced with a central government, one flag and army than through a self-confident society that wants to act and decide collectively in the interests of all its groups and peoples.
This is why Jolani and the HTS are being promoted internationally as a transitional government, despite their well-documented human rights abuses. However, the democratic administration in North and East Syria, which has been functioning de facto for many years and where diverse ethnic and religious communities live together peacefully and women’s rights and freedoms are widely enforced, still receives no political recognition.
The HTS government is one of many manifestations of the increasingly prevalent global mentality of fascism, militarisation and patriarchal domination, against which democratic forces struggle daily everywhere. The women’s revolution in North and East Syria is not utopian; it is a concrete example of how a different way of life and society can be achieved. This is a threat to the patriarchal state system and, at the same time, a promise to all women and democratic forces around the world.
As the Women Defend Rojava campaign, we are committed to raising global awareness of the achievements of the women’s revolution in Rojava. We aim to demonstrate that, when women fight collectively and resolutely for this cause, it is possible to organise, educate and build alternatives to patriarchy and its misogynistic structures and ways of thinking.
Rojava, its struggles and achievements are part of the global history of the struggle for the liberation of women and society. They give hope to people and women everywhere. Defending Rojava therefore also means defending our struggles and, at the same time, the history and achievements of women’s struggles worldwide!
With this in mind, on the anniversary of the revolution today, we send our greetings not only to Rojava, but to all women in Syria. We are convinced that if women from all population groups in Syria unite, joint steps towards a democratic society and peace will be possible!
Jin Jiyan Azadî!”
Source: ANF News
