Message from displaced women for IWD: The Turkish state must withdraw from our homeland
Displaced women working at the Iştar Tandoor Cooperative in Til Temir voiced their messages for International Women’s Day, calling on the Turkish state to withdraw from their homeland.
SORGUL ŞÊXO
Til Temir – Displaced women in North and East Syria have been waging a common struggle although their homelands have been occupied, they have been suffering from displacement, their identities have been ignored and the demographic structure of their region have been changed. In the shadow of all these circumstances, they welcome International Women’s Day. Women, who were displaced from Serêkanîyê (Ras al-Ayn) by the Turkish attacks, have been living in Til Nesri, a Syriac village of Til Temir, northeastern Syria, since October 9, 2019.
NuJINHA spoke to displaced women working at the Iştar Tandoor Cooperative, established by the Economy Committee of Kongra Star in the city of Til Temir to promote women’s economic empowerment, about International Women’s Day.
‘Our homeland must be liberated’
“Women must claim their rights, especially to secure their future,” said Emîne Hisê, who was first displaced from Serêkanîyê by the Turkish attacks and then from Aleppo by the attacks of Al-Nusra Front. “Now, women participate in the labor force everywhere, achieving successes and demanding their rights.”
Emîne Hisê wants Serêkanîyê to be liberated. “We hope that the occupations will end, the Kurdish people will gain their status and achieve victory as a result of their struggle. We hope to return to our homeland. We also demand the physical freedom of leader Abdullah Öcalan.”
Emîra Micris talked about the long-year women’s struggle for rights. “They still have not had their rights although they make more efforts than men. We demand gender equality everywhere.”
‘Our joy remains incomplete’
Emîra Micris called on the Turkish state to withdraw from “our homeland so that we can return to our homes. Our joy remains incomplete because our city, homeland, and our homes are occupied. Displacement is a form of violence. Therefore, our joy will remain incomplete until this violence ends and our cities are liberated. We can celebrate International Women’s Day when our homeland is liberated and we return to our homes. How can I celebrate International Women’s Day when my city is under occupation? We dream of a free country and a world without violence, where men and women are equal.”