HESNA MIHEMED

Shahba- Since June 10, 2023, the Turkish state has intensified its attacks on the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), which has waged a struggle against ISIS. On June 20, 2023, Qamishlo Canton Co-chair Yousra Darwish, her deputy Lîman Şiwêş and their driver Fırat Tûma were killed between Bandar and Tal Sh’ir villages in Qamishlo in a Turkish airstrike. Displaced women of Afrin, who live in the Shahba Canton, condemn the ongoing Turkish attacks against the pioneering women.

 ‘The enemy aims to break the strong will of women’

“The Turkish state especially targets women in its attacks,” said Emîna Silêman, one of the displaced women of Afrin living in the Shahba Canton. “We face the attacks of the invading Turkish state and women are particularly targeted in these attacks. Pioneering women making efforts to ensure social equality are targeted by the Turkish state. The enemy aims to break the strong will of women by attacking them. Women have taken part in politics, military and diplomacy thanks to the revolution in Rojava. As the displaced women of Afrin, we condemn the Turkish airstrike on pioneering women between Bandar and Tal Sh’ir villages in Qamishlo. The enemy is afraid of the will and power of women. We will keep protecting our land to the end.”

 ‘We will never give up on our cause’

Hêvîn Mihemed, another displaced woman of Afrin, also condemned the Turkish airstrike on pioneering women. “Targeting women after the revolution actually means targeting women’s gains. In North and East Syria, women lead all facets of life and achieve great success. Women are targeted to prevent this revolution from succeeding by invading forces. All women must rise up whenever a woman is targeted. We will never give up on our cause.”

 ‘Rise up’

Hemîda Mihemed called on women all around the world to “Rise up” against the ongoing attacks on women in North and East Syria. “Every attack on women is a reason for us to become stronger and to grow our struggle. The revolution in Rojava is also known as a women’s revolution because women got their freedom thanks to this revolution. Sovereign states target women because they do not want women to be empowered and strong-willed. We condemn all states playing a role in the attacks on women. I call on all women to rise up by chanting the slogan Jin, Jiyan, Azadi.”