SORGUL ŞÊXO

Hasakah- Kongra Star, founded in North and East Syria as an umbrella organization for all women, has been expanding its activities by opening offices in many Middle Eastern countries. Playing a bridging role for women, Kongra Star aims to unite women.

 Newroz Xelîl, Kongra Star’s Representative in Damascus, and Şervîn Cûdî, member of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) in Lebanon, commented on the influence of Kongra Star on Middle Eastern women and the gains it has achieved through struggling.

‘Kongra Star is the new spirit of Kurdish women’s resistance’

Describing Kongra Star as a center where women experience change, Newroz Xelîl said, “After the Rojava Revolution spread across North and East Syria, Kongra Star made a change for women. Kongra Star is the new spirit of Kurdish women’s resistance. Thanks to the ideology and philosophy of leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan), women have reached this stage today. Women have broken and continue to break the patriarchal mentality that kills them. Daesh was defeated in Raqqa; the fighters of the YPJ (Women's Defense Units) defeated Daesh that scared the whole world. The victory of the YPJ proves that women can lead their societies.”

‘Kongra Star has become the identity of women in Damascus'

Emphasizing that the women of Damascus get to know their own identities more thanks to Kongra Star, Newroz Xelîl said, “Kongra Star has made many changes for Arab and Kurdish women in Damascus. Women have strengthened their organized struggle to have an equal and free life. They know how to fight the patriarchal mentality and how to change men. Undoubtedly, every step taken by the women of Damascus is a victory for us. Now, women have Women’s Houses, Reconciliation Committees, Education Committees, Women’s Assemblies and other seven committees. Women have achieved these gains thanks to the philosophy and efforts of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan. Not only Kurdish women but also women all around the world have been organizing themselves and demanding freedom with the slogan, ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadi’. We carry out more activities to reach more women. Kongra Star has become the identity of women in Damascus.”

Drawing attention to the economic crisis in Damascus, she said, “Everyone is aware of the economic crisis and the current situation in Damascus. Women are the most affected by the economic crisis and the current situation in Damascus. We must educate women and raise their awareness about how to cope with this crisis. Not only Kurds but also people from all nations living in Damascus are affected by this crisis. Women should organize themselves under the umbrella of Kongra Star. Kongra Star is an umbrella organization for women all around the world.”

‘We will turn weakness into strength’

Speaking about the general situation of women in Lebanon, Şervîn Cûdî said, “We held the women’s annual conference in Lebanon. After discussing how to empower women, we attended the 9th Conference of the Kongra Star. Undoubtedly, Kongra Star is an important women’s organization leading women’s organizations and movements in Lebanon. We have also determined our plans for 2023 to turn weakness into strength and expand our committees. Now, we focus on this. We struggle for leader Abdullah Öcalan's physical freedom and to have a free life. The slogan, ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadi’ has become a global slogan. Lebanese women draw their strength from the revolution in Rojava and this slogan. Many Lebanese women wanted to attend the conference of Kongra Star; however, they could not come from Lebanon to Rojava due to the current bureaucracy. This year, we will further strengthen our struggle and become a bridge that will unit women.”