NORŞÎN ABDİ

 Kobanê-On 17 August 2023, peaceful protests erupted in the Druze majority city of Sweida over the high inflation rate and deteriorating economic situation in Syria. The protests continue on their fifth week. Gathering at the Karama Square, the protesters demand the change of the government.

In an interview with NuJINHA, Mizgin Xelil, member of the AANES Executive Council, said that the popular movement in Sweida is the continuation of the July 19 Revolution.

“The uprisings and protests that took place in the Middle East are called ‘Arab Spring’. The Arab Spring that started in Egypt and Libya after Tunisia brought hope with it. However, the people’s search for democracy and freedom did not yield results in the Middle East. In 2011, a revolution started in Syria; however, foreign interventions turned this revolution into a crisis in Syria. Kurdish people were also affected by the Arab Spring, which is called, “Peoples’ Spring” by Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan. Thus, the July Revolution started,” she told us.

‘The July 19 Revolution is one of the most important gains’

“The Kurdish people are not the only nation that demands freedom in the Middle East,” Mizgin Xelil said, “Throughout history; people from many nationalities have demanded freedom, equality and democracy against capitalist, authoritarian and fascist regimes. You can see this in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Kurdish people in Rojava have achieved many gains and the July 19 Revolution is one of the most important gains. The system in the region includes people from all regions and nationalities.”

‘They caused the crisis’

Speaking about the intervention of foreign actors in Syria and their role in deepening the crisis, she said, “May foreign actors have interfered in this crisis under the pretext that they wanted to find a solution to the Syrian crisis. However, their interference has been deepening the crisis instead of resolving it because authoritarian and capitalist countries caused the crisis and they do not want to resolve this crisis. They never aim to resolve the Syrian crisis; they only act according to their own interests.”

‘The AANES plays a key role in resolution of the Syrian crisis’

Mizgin Xelil thinks that the Syrian crisis cannot be solved without the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES). “Until now, many meetings have been held in Astana, Sochi and Geneva to resolve the crisis. They cannot resolve this crisis without the participation of the people of Syria, especially the AANES. Since they know that the system of the AANES is the ideal solution to the Syrian crisis, they accuse the administration of aiming to divide Syria. For this reason, they do not invite the members of the AANES to the meetings. But everyone knows that the Autonomous Administration is a part of Syrian territory and has the power to resolve the crisis. We will resolve the crisis and build a free Syria.”

Speaking about the peaceful protests in Sweida, she said, “The popular movement in Sweida is the continuation of the July 19 Revolution. In mid-August, a popular movement was started in Sweida by the Druze, who have a rich culture and history. The culture of the Druze and the Kurdish people is similar and this allows them to be in solidarity with each other. Their stance against injustice and authoritarianism is an important step for all people of Syria. As the AANES, we support them and we are in solidarity with them. The banners held by the protesters and slogans chanted by them demand the unity of all people in Syria and the construction of a pluralistic Syria with a decentralized system. The struggle and revolution of women in North and East Syria encourage the women of Sweida to take to the streets and demand freedom. They unfurled banners to be in solidarity with the people of Afrin. As the people and women of Syria, we will keep struggling against capitalist, authoritarian and fascist regimes to build a system based on democracy and equality.”