BERÇEM CÛDÎ

Kobanê- ISIS, known as the most dangerous terrorist organization of the 21st century, was defeated in Kobanê thanks to the resistance led by women. On September 15, 2014, ISIS attacked the city of Kobanê. YPJ and YPG fighters defended the city by becoming a shield against the attacks of ISIS. After 134-day resistance, Kobanê was liberated on January 26, 2015.

Women, who played a leading role in the Kobanê Resistance by organizing under the umbrella of the YPJ, which was founded on April 4, 2013. While YPJ fighters led the resistance, they also used their bodies as shields, like Arîn Mîrkan and Rêvana Kobanê. The historical women's struggle in the Kobanê Resistance is now defined as the most important gain of women in the 21st century. In the interview with NuJINHA, Zozan Bekir, coordinating member of Kongra Star in the Euphrates Region, spoke about the role of women in Kobanê and the philosophy ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadi’ to mark the 8th anniversary of the liberation of Kobanê.

‘The Kobanê Resistance paved the way for the defeat of ISIS’

“The attacks of ISIS on Kobanê on September 15, 2014 were very violent and brutal. These attacks took place at a time when ISIS terrorism was spreading in Syria and Iraq and posing a threat to the world. ISIS killed hundreds of people in Shengal (Sinjar); they occupied many places. They aimed to eliminate the color of women in all spheres of life. After taking the control of cities such as Mosul and Raqqa, they attacked Kobanê. The fighters of the YPJ and YPG showed an unprecedented resistance against ISIS. The victory in Kobanê has become a symbol for humanity in the 21st century. The attacks on Kobanê were carried out in accordance with the perspectives of the Turkish state. The Turkish state thought Kobanê would fall in several hours like other cities; however, the fighters and people of Kobanê and their friends exhibited a great resistance for 134 days and defeated ISIS. This defeat was the first defeat of ISIS. The victory in Kobanê and the Kobanê Resistance paved the way for the defeat of ISIS,” she told us.

‘Women break 5,000-year-old mentality’

Speaking about the leading role of women in the Kobanê Resistance, Zozan Bekir said, “Women played a leading role in the resistance against ISIS in Kobanê. The women, who educated and empowered themselves with the ideology of leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan) became commanders and fought at the frontline. Before that, Kurdish women had fought in the mountains of Kurdistan for years. The YPJ fighters became stronger with the experiences of the Kurdish women. They fought both ISIS and the patriarchal mentality. Therefore, they proved that they could defend their land and fight. During the Kobanê Resistance, women broke a 5,000-year old mentality.”

“A month before the attacks on Kobanê, ISIS committed a genocide against the Yazidi community in Shengal. Thousands of Yazidi women were abducted and killed. For this reason, YPJ fighters avenged the Yazidi women of Shengal in Kobanê,” Zozan Bekir said, “After the defeat of ISIS in Kobanê, thousands of women returned to their homeland. After the defeat of ISIS in Kobanê, thousands of foreign women came to Rojava Kürdistan in order to fight along with the YPJ fighters. For the first time, women rose up against the state/patriarchal mentality.”

‘These gains are the gains of all women’

Speaking about the philosophy “Jin, Jiyan, Azadi”, Zozan Bekir said, “The resistance and struggle of women against ISIS terrorism in Kobanê formed a basis for the strengthening and globalization of the philosophy Jin, Jiyan, Azadi. If women had not fought and sacrificed their lives in Kobanê, women would not join hands today. Today, women from all nations and religions fight in Kurdistan, the Middle East and all around the world for freedom. We see how our resistance and revolution become globalized by chanting the slogan ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadi’. We call on all women to join hands by chanting this slogan until we achieve freedom and equality.”