In light of increasing violence against women in southern Syria, particularly in the Druze province of Suweyda, the Women’s Defense Units (YPJ) Commander Viyan Adar has called for the establishment of independent women’s self-defense forces. The attacks have reached “brutal proportions,” Adar said, stressing the need for women everywhere to organize and protect themselves.
“If women do not establish their own defense and organizational structures, they will face even greater danger on a daily basis,” Adar warned.
YPJ Commander Viyan Adar spoke to ANF about the Damascus government’s transformation process. Emphasizing that developments in Syria following the collapse of the Baath regime did not paint a hopeful picture, Adar said the following:
“Today, in many parts of Syria, especially in the south and in Suwayda, and even in other regions, the treatment of women has reached a brutal level. This is particularly evident in Suwayda at the moment. However, the Syrian people are not surprised by this situation, because an ideology that has taken over the future from Al-Qaeda and jihadists has never inspired trust in anyone, especially women.
We will continue our struggle. However, this mentality has always raised doubts among the people, especially women, since the beginning of the change of power in Damascus.
We are deeply saddened by the events in Syria, and especially in Suwayda in recent days. We are closely monitoring the situation, because we are a people who have experienced such massacres many times in history, and we know how painful they are.
The developments in Syria have shown us and all Syrian women that women must build their self-defense forces. They must unite against this mentality. This is not only true in Syria, but all over the world; women must unite against the oppression and cruelty directed against them. Oppressive practices targeting women continue worldwide, albeit through different methods. Therefore, women must sustain their struggle for freedom without interruption.”
Stating that the events in Syria pose serious threats to women and society, Viyan Adar continued: “What is happening today poses a great danger not only to women, but to society as a whole. To eliminate this danger, all Syrian women in all provinces must establish their own self-defense units. Numbers are not important; they must form their own defense groups as a right, to the extent necessary. Self-defense is a right. Women must come together everywhere, organize, and strengthen their defenses.
Men must also take part in the struggle for women’s freedom, because this is a matter of the future. Everyone must begin with their own homes, villages, and streets to strengthen their self-defense.
There are examples of this. For example, in Suwayda, a mother named Fewîzye Fexir El-Dîn refused to accept dishonor when her village was attacked; she defended her village and fell as a martyr. There are many such examples in northern and eastern Syria.
Adar emphasized that women will continue to live under serious threats every day unless they organize and develop their self-defense, adding: “If women do not prioritize defense and organization systems everywhere, they will face even greater threats and dangers every day. We do not accept such a life.
We believe that women in Suwayda and other cities will also take a stand and understand that they cannot exist without self-defense. That is why every woman must arm herself wherever she is, because if she has no weapon, she cannot exist. These decisions are very important. We will stand with all women under oppression and persecution, especially women in Suwayda and southern Syria, at every stage.”
Source: ANF News
