RIHA - Women play an important role in agricultural production in Northern and Eastern Syria. Gulistan Murad from the Women's Economic Committee said: “A bond with the land was re-established through cooperatives. Our barren lands come to life with the hands of women."

 

In Northern and Eastern Syria, women continue to lead change and transformation in all areas of life. Economy is one of the areas where women play an important role. Women, who established the Women's Economic Committee in 2015 to strengthen their presence in the field of employment, from which they were especially excluded during the Baath regime, organized with communes and cooperatives throughout the region. The number of cooperatives ranging from 10 to 75 members increased to 50 over time. Women, who provide a significant portion of the production in agriculture, have created dozens of market areas within the committee to deliver cheap and healthy products directly to the consumer.

 

The committee, which implements projects such as textile-clothing production workshops, furniture factories and school canteens, aims to strengthen the organized network by creating cooperatives with at least 3 members in each village. The income of the communes and cooperatives established within Kongra Star, the umbrella organization of women, is shared equally among the members.

 

Gulistan Murad, director of the Northern and Eastern Syria Women's Economic Committee, spoke to Mezopotamya Agency (MA) about her achievements and future projects.

 

SEX ROLE STEREOTYPES ARE DESTROYED

 

Stating that women were imprisoned at home before the "Rojava Revolution" started on July 19, 2012, Murad said: "'motherhood' was one of the most imposed social roles. There have been changes in many areas with the July 19 revolution, the most important of which is the changes experienced by women in the field of economy. Before the revolution, it was not possible to talk about women's rights in the field of economy. Everything was in the hands of men. All women had to do was run the house and give birth to children. This understanding was dominant. However, it was women who were decisive in the emergence of the economy. This has been reversed in the intervening 5 thousand years. Women, who play an active role in every aspect of life, have been pushed out of the social sphere for many years."

 

Stating that women were included in the social sphere again after the revolution, Murad said: “They established their own institutions within Kongra Star. There were great difficulties in gaining the usurped rights because they were alienated from everything. They did not see the economy as their own. When economics was mentioned, men were shaped in women's minds. We gradually replaced this with training seminars, home visits and conferences. Thus, the idea of creating their own economies became increasingly widespread. They realized that they could be pioneers in the economy, just as they were pioneers in the military field. Women proved to the masculine system that they are competent in every field with this revolution."

 

50 WOMEN'S COOPERATIVES

 

Drawing attention that economic models are different from the economic models of the capitalist system, Murad said: “In the capitalist system, everything is considered materially. We are creating an economic model that prioritizes society. The women's economy is a model in which everyone is included and everyone sees themselves as belonging. Our cooperatives are generally focused on agriculture. 45 thousand decares of agricultural land is cultivated for cooperatives. Apart from agricultural cooperatives, we also have commercial cooperatives. We have approximately 50 women's cooperatives in Northern and Eastern Syria, and only women are involved. Those in cooperatives work equally and have the authority to make decisions at every stage. We attach importance to women's cooperatives and our aim is to increase these cooperatives.”

 

SERÊKANIYÊ, GIRÊ SPÎ AND EFRÎN

 

Stating that the cooperatives in Serêkaniyê, Girê Spî and Afrin were closed after the cities came under the control of Turkey and affiliated paramilitary structures, Murad said: “Women were engaged in agriculture in all three cities. Women built the new life in these cities with the revolution. They planted trees everywhere. We only had 43 thousand decares of agricultural land in Serêkanîye and 30 thousand decares in Girêspî. After the occupation, there were attacks on women's achievements. Women were imprisoned at home again. We witness crimes against women every day. Women are kidnapped and raped. So much so that women cannot leave their homes anymore. But we have not lost hope and we will return to our lands again."

 

PIONEERING WOMEN ARE THE TARGET

 

Emphasizing that Turkey targets women's achievements with attacks, Murad said: “Turkey targets pioneer women to take revenge on ISIS. However, instead of every targeted woman, dozens of women join the struggle. None of our friends' places are left empty. In addition to the attacks, there is an embargo all around us. We are implementing new projects under attack and embargo. Despite all the attacks, our march did not stop for a day. Even though many of our agricultural lands are on the border, women continue production. Women have re-established a bond with the land through cooperatives, and this bond is getting stronger day by day. Our barren lands come to life with the hands of women. There is a water problem in the region. We are working on opening water wells everywhere. We carry out afforestation work every year. This year we planted only 7-8 thousand trees. Our information training will be continued by increasing their scope."

 

PHILOSOPHY OF 'JIN, JIYAN, AZADÎ'

 

Underlining that a new life has come to life in the Middle East, especially in Rojhilat, with the philosophy of "Jin, jiyan, azadi", which is the basis of the 45-year struggle of the Kurdish freedom movement, Murad continued: "The struggle of women left its mark on the 21st century. Women became the symbol of the revolution in Rojava. All women of the world should turn their faces to Rojava. They need to witness from their own place how the new life is woven. We are fighting not only for the women of Northern and Eastern Syria, but also for the women of the whole world. Wherever a woman is oppressed, we stand by her. Women are rewriting history. It is important that all women are together and organized while this history is being written. We will walk in the light of the philosophy of 'Jin, jiyan, azadi' until the end."

 

MA / Emrullah Acar