SORGUL ŞÊXO

Hasakah- Since the revolution in Rojava, also known as women’s revolution, people from many nations have had a voice in all spheres of life under the umbrella of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. In 2015, Many Syriac- Assyrian people left their villages after ISIS attacked Syriac-Assyrian villages of the Khabur Region. Being forcibly displaced from their villages, they settled in the Til Temir district of Hasakah. In a short time, they formed the Syriac Military Council to defend their people. In August 2018, they held their first congress in Qamishlo.

NuJINHA spoke to Medlên Xemîs, Co-chair of the Democratic Soraya Party in North and East Syria, about the purpose and activities of the party.

Stating that “Soraya” defines the religion of all Syriac-Chaldean people and their churches, Medlên Xemîs said, “It also defines our people, who were forced to convert to Islam. Our party supports Syriacs all around the world and it demands freedom and independence of Syriacs. One of the main aims of the party is to support the displaced Syriacs to rebuild their lives.”

‘It struggles against reactionism, tribalism and sectarianism’

Emphasizing that their party struggles against reactionism, tribalism and sectarianism, Madlên Xemîs said, “It struggles to strengthen the national consciousness and the revolutionary, democratic spirit. In addition, it carries out activities to end racist and discriminatory systems.”

‘Our aim is to promote gender equality’

“Another aim of our party is to promote gender equality,” Madlên Xemîs said, “It also advocates for women's rights. Our party makes efforts to build a national identity. Our party struggles for justice to make our cause known all around the world, to make our voices heard in the international arena. Our people live in many countries and they face economic, political, social and cultural oppression. Our party is a political party aiming to represent Syriacs all around the world. Our party has a Women’s Office because women play an important role in their society. We believe that our society cannot be liberated without the liberation of women. Syriac women are resisting women. Syriac women fighters such as Wîdad and Şamîram lost their lives while fighting ISIS in February 2015. We will always struggle for the freedom and unity of our people.”