Arab woman in Aleppo: We will build a free and democratic Syria together
“Unity is the key to victory,” said Feride Zekeriye, coordinating member of the Martyr Şilan Kobanê Assembly in Aleppo, stressing that organized women's struggle will build a free and democratic Syria.
DILPAK DAĞ
Aleppo- In the neighborhood of Sheikh Maqsoud, the heart of Aleppo, women formed dozens of communes within the incorporation of the Martyr Şilan Kobanê Assembly founded in 2018.
Feride Zekeriye, an Arab woman and coordinating member of the assembly in Aleppo, commented on the recent attacks by jihadist armed groups and Turkish-backed factions on northeastern Syria.
Feride Zekeriye recalled the resistance of the people started against the Baathist regime across Syria in 2011. “Since 2012, the people of Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods have united, turning them into a fortress of resistance. As people from different nationalities and religions, we have resisted all kinds of attacks on our neighborhoods.”
‘The Syrian regime collapsed because it was not democratic’
Armed groups launched attacks on North and East Syria under different names, “But we, as women, resisted their attacks. Everyone should know that the Syrian regime collapsed because it was not a democratic and did not embrace women and people.”
‘We reject reactionary approaches against women’
The practices of the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and HTS-backed groups “are unacceptable”, said Feride Zekeriye. “According to the reports, women lawyers in Aleppo were ordered to attend court sessions by covering their hair. We are concerned about restrictions on women's participation in the labor force. These armed groups have reactionary approaches saying women have to stay at home. We reject such reactionary approaches against women. We reject all mindsets that aim to enslave women.”
‘Unity is the key to victory’
Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan proposed the democratic nation as a solution for the Middle East, emphasized Feride Zekeriye. “The ongoing clashes in Syria kill, injure and displace civilians. We live under the umbrella of the Autonomous Administration (of North and East Syria). I think our neighborhood serves as a model because we resist and fight together without any discrimination.
“Unity is the key to victory and organized women's struggle will build a free and democratic Syria.”