RAPERÎN BEKIR

Shahba- Celebrations have been taking place across North and East Syria to mark the birthday of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, April 4. NuJINHA spoke to the women of Afrin and Shehba about their feelings and thoughts on the 75th birthday of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan.

 “The resistance waged by people and fighters in the mountains of Kurdistan and North and East Syria is a historical resistance,” said Arin Bekir, deputy chair of the Women’s Council in Afrin/Shahba Canton. An international conspiracy was conducted against leader Abdullah Öcalan, the architect of the system based on democracy in North and East Syria. We condemn this conspiracy. The people and fighters are determined to thwart the policies of capitalist countries.”

 ‘We will always keep our promise’

Arin Bekir is a displaced woman from Afrin. “We always emphasize that we will resist in Shehba due to our commitment to Öcalan's thoughts and philosophy. We will always keep our promise and follow up Öcalan’s thoughts and philosophy. Leader Öcalan freed women from thousands of years of slavery. He strengths and values women. Women began to play their roles in society after learning the thoughts and philosophy of leader Öcalan. Now, women play important roles in their society. Leader Öcalan was born in the village of Amara on April 4, 1948. I wish his birthday brings freedom to all people and women struggling against injustice and enslavement.”

‘He is a global leader’

‘Women have suffered due to the patriarchal mentality for thousands of years,” said Rehab Jabo. “The outdated traditions and customs prevented women from playing their roles in society and enjoying their rights. As the ideology of freedom spread across North and East Syria, women began to rise up against injustice and to demand their rights. The ideology, philosophy and analysis of leader Apo are not only for the Kurdish people, but also for all people living in the world. For this reason, he is a global leader.”

 ‘We will spread this system all over the world’

Rehab Jabo pointed out that the isolation imposed by the Turkish state on Abdullah Öcalan could not imprison his thoughts. “Many countries were involved in the international conspiracy; however, they cannot eliminate the philosophy of freedom and the system based on democracy even though they impose isolation on him.  Our struggle will continue until leader Öcalan regains his physical freedom. We will spread the system based on democracy not only in North and East Syria but also all over the world.”

‘We will not give up resisting’

“April 4 is the birthday of all humanity,” said Cihan İsmail. “We learned what a free life is thanks to leader Öcalan's thoughts and philosophy. The organizations defending the rights of prisoners must fulfill their responsibilities so that leader Öcalan can see his lawyers and family members. They should put pressure on the Turkish state. We will not give up resisting until leader Öcalan regains his physical freedom and his ideology spreads all over the world.”