EBÎR MUHAMED

 Qamishlo- In North and East Syria, where people from different nationalities and cultures live together, the efforts to build an equal life in all facets of life, including military, education and economy, after the Rojava Revolution led by women have become a role model for the whole world. NuJINHA spoke to the women involved in art and culture in the city of Qamishlo about the 12th anniversary of the revolution in Rojava.

 ‘Women from different nationalities supported the revolution’

Kurdish women are today stronger thanks to the philosophy of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, said Sûmeye Mihemed, Co-chair of the Mesopotamia Movement for Democratic Culture and Art of North and East Syria (TEV-ÇAND), stressing that women from different nationalities, including Arab, Syriac, Circassian and Turkmen, supported the revolution. “The revolution in Rojava was definitely a women's revolution. We have built a common life thanks to our martyrs, especially our female martyrs. Women, who could not express their thoughts in the past, have become managers, writers, artists and actors.”

 ‘The revolution gives women the opportunity to protect their rights’

The revolution in Rojava is a victory of women, said Muna Xilêwî, member of the Culture and Art Center in the Til Hemîs town of Qamishlo, “The revolution gives women the opportunity to participate in all facets of life, including politics, culture and art, education etc. It also gives them the opportunity to demand and protect their rights. North and East Syria is the home of various cultures and people from different nationalities and ethnic groups make great efforts to preserve their culture. Before the revolution, people suffered from racism but today they enjoy equality. We want to learn different languages and cultures.”

‘We have built a common life’

Before the revolution, women did not have the right to work, emphasized Mêgrî Serkîs, Co-chairman of the Armenian Youth Assembly in Qamishlo. “Before the revolution, women were not allowed to receive education; they could not make decision about their lives and future and express their thoughts. Now, they are leaders in society because women led the Rojava Revolution. Due to oppressive policies in the past, we were unable to be aware of cultural diversity around us; we did not know anything about different cultures and religions. Since the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria was established, people have respected each other. We have built a common life despite our differences thanks to the revolution. Now, we work together and respect each other and learn each other’s history and culture.”