BERÇEM CÛDÎ

 

Kobanê- On May 14, the people of Turkey and Northern Kurdistan casted their votes in the presidential and parliamentary elections. The voters will head back to the polls on May 28 for a runoff election to decide who will be the new president of the country. According to the parliamentary election results, the Green Left Party has had 61 members of parliament, including 30 women MPs. Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) Executive Council member Mizgîn Xelîl calls on all women to cast their votes in the presidential runoff election to determine their future.

 ‘It is a historical and strategic process’

Greeting the struggle of the people in Northern Kurdistan, Mizgîn Xelîl said, “First of all, I greet the enthusiasm, effort and uninterrupted struggle of the people of Northern Kurdistan in the parliamentary and presidential elections. We wish them success in the presidential runoff election to be held on May 28. We think these elections are a historical and strategic process. It is time to put an end to AKP/MHP fascism, for society to make its own decision and to do its part to change this system.”

‘They are afraid’

Mizgîn Xelîl pointed to the participation of women in the elections and said, “The participation, enthusiasm and presence of women changed the election results. The number of women, who have won seats in the parliament, have become hope for freedom and shown that the 21st century is the century of women. The AKP-MHP and their factions continue to carry out their misogynous policies because they are afraid of the will and struggle of women and they see women as a threat against them.”

 

‘We congratulate the efforts of women’

Highlighting the role of women in changing the system in Turkey, she said, “The presence, voice and color of women were obvious in these elections. The democratic, ecological and free life paradigm that leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan) presented to women is now being realized. Women have kept their word to realize this paradigm and we are very happy for that. We congratulate the efforts of women from Kobanê to Northern Kurdistan. We know that when women wage a struggle wherever in the world, their struggle is against the patriarchal system. Therefore, we see how the current government starts collapsing.”

 

Call on women

“The message of the women in Northern Kurdistan for the elections is obvious,” said Mizgîn Xelîl. “Women have been waging a great struggle against the AKP-MHP government and we see how their struggle is effective. The struggle of Kurdish women inspires all women of the Middle East and the world. This year, the women of Iran and Eastern Kurdistan rose up against the radical Islamist mentality by chanting ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadi (English: Women, Life, Freedom)’. This slogan has become a global slogan. For this reason, we call on all women in Turkey and Northern Kurdistan to go to the polls on May 28 and cast their votes with the same determination and enthusiasm.``