RONAHÎ NÛDA

Qamishlo-  Yekitiya Star announced its foundation on January 15, 2005. At its sixth congress, the name of Yekitiya Star was changed to its current name of Kongra Star. Kongra Star has 13 committees about education, economy, self-defense, law, ecology, health, culture and art, communication, diplomacy and the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan.

Kongra Star organizes itself through communes and councils of North and East Syria and it has offices in Lebanon, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and Europe.

‘We come to these days thanks to the efforts of women’

NuJINHA spoke to Kongra Star Spokesperson about the anniversary of Kongra Star.

 “As Kongra Star, we greet all women, who strengthen their resistance in North and East Syria every day. We come to these days thanks to the efforts of women. The works of Kongra Star make an impression in the Middle East and all around the world. We dedicate the foundation anniversary of Kongra Star to leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan). We will maintain our struggle to build a democratic and equal society.”

‘Kongra Star is everywhere’

Kongra Star is a space for women, Rihan Loqo emphasized. “We consider ourselves very lucky to be a party to the works of Kongra Star. We expand our work every day. Yekitiya Star, which was founded by Kurdish women, keeps carrying out its works in the name of Kongra Star. When women face problems, they apply to Kongra Star. Kongra Star is a space for women to find solutions for their problems, to build a life and to struggle. We always work everywhere for the unity, education and organization of women. The women, who made great efforts under the umbrella of Yekitiya Star from 2005 to 2012, keep making great efforts under the umbrella of Kongra Star from 2012 to 2024. Today, Kongra Star has eight offices in different places such as Damascus, Lebanon, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and Europe. Kongra Star is everywhere.”

‘Women started a revolution within the revolution’

Kongra Star is a great legacy for all women, said Rihan Loqo. “If Yekitiya Star had not carried out secret activities at homes despite the oppression of the Baathist regime in 2005, and if it had not been established at a time when there were attacks on the Kurdish people, perhaps the women's revolution would not have been as strong as it is today. Yekitiya Star paved the way for women’s organizations to grow day by day. In North and East Syria, women did not participate in the revolution; they led the revolution. Thus, women started a revolution within the revolution. Thanks to Yekitiya Star, Kongra Star can reach all women today. In addition, women formed their communes and councils.”

 

‘We wanted to break gender stereotypes’

Kongra Star formed committees when women were not allowed to participate in politics, military and economy. “Now, Kongra Star has 13 committees. Each committee has a purpose. We formed the committees because we wanted to break gender stereotypes. Today, women make great efforts in all facets of life. We have committees such as diplomacy, politics, self-defense, ecology, health, press, culture and arts, economy, law and education.”

‘Family Law protects women’s rights’

The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) enacted the Family Law on November 10, 2022 to guarantee justice and equality. “The Family Law was approved by the Peoples’ Assembly of the Jazira Region in 2023. This law is one of the gains of the women’s revolution. Family Law protects women’s rights and their identity.”

 ‘Gender-based violence is common in the occupied areas’

Speaking about the role of Mala Jin (Women’s Houses) in North and East Syria, Rihan Loqo said, “When women face problems, they apply to Women’s Houses. The members of Women’s Houses listen to both women and men to solve their problems. However, gender-based violence is common in the occupied areas such as Afrin, Serêkanîyê (Ras al-Ayn), Girê Spî (Tell Abyad) and Jarabulus.” Condemning the silence of the international community against rights violations committed against women in the occupied areas of North and East Syria, Rihan Loqo said, “An international delegation should go to the occupied areas to monitor what is happening there.”

 ‘We will realize the dreams of our comrades’

Rihan Loqo also commented on the ongoing Turkish attacks on North and East Syria. “In 2023, the Turkish state carried out attacks on our region by using its drones, warplanes and heavy weapons. The Turkish attacks targeted civilian infrastructure. The aim of the Turkish attacks was to destroy women's gains and the women's revolution. The Turkish state keeps attacking our region. As Kongra Star, we do not remain silent against these attacks. We held marches to protest the Turkish attacks. We vow to follow in the footsteps of our martyrs. We will always resist gender-based violence, occupation and attacks. We will realize the dreams of our comrades. We will build a system based on democracy and equality.”