RONAHÎ NÛDA

Qamishlo- Joint Action Platform of Women’s Movements and Organizations in North and East Syria kicked off its activities for the International Women’s Day on February 24. Releasing a statement in Arabic, Kurdish and Syriac with the motto, “We will defeat the politics of genocide, occupation and isolation with the free will of women”, the platform said that they would organize many activities such as meetings, seminars and visits. NuJINHA spoke to Rihan Loqo, Spokesperson of Kongra Star, about the activities to be held in North and East Syria.

 ‘We demand the physical freedom of leader Apo’

Rihan Loqo started her speech by wishing a happy Women’s Day to Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan and all women. “The main demand of women living in North and East Syria is the physical freedom of leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan). We also wish a happy Women’s Day to all women fighters, revolutionists and those who demand freedom. The International Women’s Day has a different meaning in the region where the women's revolution started.”

‘Every day should be a day of struggle and resistance’

Indicating that they hold many activities every year to mark the International Women’s Day, Rihan Loqo said, “Every day should be a day of struggle and resistance to make the 21st century a century of women. Women have already achieved many successes in all facets of life, including politics, diplomacy, military and social life. We should achieve more gains. We will strengthen our women's struggle in this century.”

Multi-language statement

Speaking about the press statement in three languages by the platform, she said, “We had many meetings with women’s movements and organizations before kicking off the activities for IWD. We determined the ‘We will defeat the politics of genocide, occupation and isolation with the free will of women’ motto for this year. There are many attacks on women and pioneering women are targeted everywhere. That’s why we decided on this motto.”

 

Rihan Loqo also gave information about the activities planned to be organized on March 8. “Our message this year is to strengthen our fight against occupation. We will visit women in villages, towns and cities. In addition, we will give information about our revolution to foreign women such as writers, politicians and intellectuals. Men should know that we struggle to build a democratic life and that we should struggle together. We will organize art activities, forums, seminars and meetings in every city and canton.”

Rallies in many cities

The activities for the International Women’s Day will be organized by committees in cantons. “Each committee will organize its activities in cities. Women will also hold rallies in Qamishlo, Hasakah, Aleppo, Shehba, Lebanon, Damascus and European cities by giving important messages in Kurdish, Arabic and Syriac.”

‘Our successes built a great fear in the Turkish state’

Noting that Kurdish, Arabic, Syriac, Turkmen, Yazidi and Circassian women have struggled in all facets of life, Rihan Loqo said, “Women of the region have carried out many scientific, organizational and philosophical studies. Many of our comrades such as Yusra, Rihan, Sorxwîn, Azadî, Şervîn and Zelal were targeted because our successes built a great fear in the Turkish state. In Turkish attacks, women members of the YPJ (Women’s Defense Units) and the AANES (Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria) were targeted. We call on every woman demanding freedom to take to the streets on March 8.”