URFA - Stating that the women's struggle in the person of Arîn Mîrkan, Rêvana, Destîna, Hêlîn, Vîyan, Renîn and Rûken was announced to the whole world from Kobanê, HPC-Jin Administrator Edle Bekir said: "They will continue to defend the resistance fortress and protect its gains."
In the city of Kobanê, in Northern and Eastern Syria, the Kurds, who put up an epic 134-day resistance against ISIS, one of the darkest organizations of the 21st century, quickly started the construction process after clearing ISIS from their lands. Free living spaces were created through organizations such as democratic politics, co-presidential system, self-defense force, communes, parliaments and cooperatives, which were built step by step during the 8-year period that started under the leadership of women.
ORGANIZATION IN COMMON GOALS
Defying the darkness of men who want to re-institutionalize themselves in the person of ISIS, women undertook the rebuilding of social relations by defending their cities, streets, lands and lives. Alternative models were produced with the paradigm of "democratic, ecological, women's libertarian" against the single-centred capitalist system, and they were organized and strengthened in all areas from law to economy, health to education, culture and art to politics and self-defense in all areas where they were completely excluded by the Baath Regime. In order to be aware of the problems faced by women, Mala Jin was established by organizing from street to street, house to house. Especially women who intervened in early marriages formed the Women's Laws, that is, the social contract. Yekîtiya Star, the Kurdish women's organization, turned into Kongra Star, the umbrella organization of all women in the region, with the liberation of new areas and the inclusion of Arab, Assyrian, Armenian, Circassian and Turkmen women in the system in 2016; thus, every woman joined this confederal structure with her own culture, color and language. Women, who rebelled against the patriarchal structure in society and met with their organizations in common goals, minds and decisions, had a decisive power in every field of society.
KURDISH WOMEN INSPIRED THE WOMEN OF WORLD
Jîneology Research Academy was established against the domination of the male mind in science. In this way, women began to develop their future and write their own history in the development of the revolution. Women, who actively participated in the revolution process, also made their claims in defense with military formations such as the Women's Defense Units (YPJ), Public Security Forces and the Power of Natural Defense(HPC-Jin), and inspired the world's women's movements.
HPC-Jin director Edle Bekir evaluated the resistance that developed in Kobanê and the role of women in the Kobanê victory.
WOMAN LIBERATION PARADIGM OF ÖCALAN
Stating that women were suppressed by oppression during the regime, Bekir said: "Our presence in the society was banned due to the 'shame' and 'honor' mentality. In this system, women are rendered unable to even open the door of the house. There has been an awakening with the 'women libertarian' paradigm of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan. Today women have come to a position where they rebelled by saying 'honor is our land, our homeland'. Women's organizations started to gain strength after the July 19 Rojava Revolution. When our revolution began, women's revolt rose. Many parents held their daughters by the hand and brought them to our institutions. This is the gift of the revolution and may it be with you to protect the revolution. In the following process, as YPJ, we created our own female army alongside the YPG. Kurdish women played an important role in their politics and education. Rojava women got their strength from Free Women's Unions (YJA Star). As women's organization increased, women took their place in all fields such as military, political, social and organizational. Women came together to find solutions and increased their organized struggle. It is true, we were blind, deaf and dumb before. We couldn't say anything. We had no say. When the leadership created our people out of nothing, we woke up. It was organized with the paradigm presented by the leadership in women. On this day, Kurdish women raised everyone together with themselves. As we are female and male act together here. We complete each other. Today, women are now playing their own roles. We are expanding the organization by reaching all women."
ISIS ARE AFRAID OF WOMEN
Stating that the attacks by Turkey and ISIS started after the July 19 Rojava Revolution, Bekir said: “The Kurds stood against these attacks with their faith and organization. Turkey was saying that it was fighting ISIS, not the Kurds, but it turned out that Turkey itself was ISIS. ISIS was receiving training in many places such as Gaziantep and Urfa. On the one hand, Turkey was passing ISIS to the Gree Spi side, on the other hand, it was opening the border gate in Kabane and allowing the Kurdish people to cross into Turkey. When the attacks against Kobanê started, all women, young and old, received weapons training and rushed to the battle positions because women who did not accept surrender were now aware of their existence. When ISIS carried out barbaric attacks, Kurdish women took up their weapons and defended themselves. In the confessions of the ISIS members, ISIS said that 'when we heard the zılgıts(scoldings) of the women, we dragged our heels'. They didn't want to die at the hands of women, but we killed them by the hands of women. They were attacking with tanks, artillery and all kinds of heavy weapons to break our will, but we resisted. There is a tree called 'Dara nemêr' here. An ISIS assassin had settled in that tree and was assassinating our fighters. A woman walked around him and killed him. Who gave us this power? Of course Our Leadership and YJA Star encouraged us.”
REBUILDING OF KOBANE
Stating that the liberated Kobanê was in a state of ruin, Bekir said: "When people looked at Kobanê, they were thinking 'how will it be built' but within two years, Kobanê was rebuilt better than before. Kobanê is now bigger than before. We rebuilt our institutions. YPG/YPJ, SDF, and public order were reorganized. The civilian population was organized."
THE RESISTANCE CASTLE OF WOMEN
Stating that no forces could enter Kobanê again, Bekir concluded his speech as follows: “Erdoğan said:'Kobanê has fallen'. When Erdoğan said this, women in particular became more ambitious and clinging to their positions more tightly. Positions were defended with a spirit of sacrifice in order not to let Erdoğan reach his goal, and Erdogan could not reach his goal. Women killed thousands of gangs here. The women's resistance was announced to the world from Kobanê. The women's struggle in the person of Arîn Mîrkan, Rêvana, Destina, Hêlîn, Vîyan, Renîn and Rûken was announced to the whole world. Great heroism was shown. Arîn, who exploded herself among the gangs in Miştenûr and shook the world, was a friend. No matter how hard they try to surrender and destroy the Kurds, the Kurds will never surrender. We have a very strong spirit of will. Kobanê was watered with the blood of martyrs. Blood was flowing continuously for almost 4 months. We will continue to defend that great resistance, the fortress of resistance, and to protect our gains.”
MA / Ömer Akın