HAYFA XELÎL

Raqqa- In an interview with NuJINHA, Semira Al Ahmed, one of the commanders of the Women's Defense Units (YPJ), talked about the 26th anniversary of the international conspiracy against Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan.

At the beginning of her speech, she mentioned the attacks of ISIS on North and East Syria, especially Raqqa and said, “When ISIS attacked Raqqa, many women and children were subjected to unjust and repressive practices. As women, we fought to defend our region against ISIS and the attacks of the Turkish state. As an Arab woman, I joined the Women's Defense Units (YPJ). All women must learn how to protect themselves and to defend their homeland.”

‘Women protect the people against the Turkish state as they did against ISIS’

Women have been oppressed by the patriarchal systems for over 5,000 years, Semira Al Ahmed stressed. “Women have been paying the heaviest price for the wars and crises that have been created by the patriarchal systems for thousands of years. Women are seen as the weakest link in society. Actually, women are targeted because it is known that they are the strongest link in society and have the power to build peace. Since 2012, the Syrian women and the women of North and East Syria have been resisting. The women of North and East Syria have achieved significant gains thanks to the July 19th Revolution in 2012. The YPJ liberated the region and its people from ISIS and now defends the Tishreen Dam against the attacks by the Turkish state and its armed groups. Women not only fight against the occupation but also are the front line to protect their gains.”

‘The thoughts of leader Öcalan have reached all continents’

The women of North and East Syria have achieved significant gains by embracing Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan’s paradigm based on free life, Semira Al Ahmed emphasized, adding: “The thoughts and philosophy of leader Abdullah Öcalan paves the way for women to be free, to play leading roles in society. The thoughts of leader Öcalan have reached not only North and East Syria but also all continents. Leader Öcalan presents a new and important ideology to the whole world. His thoughts and ideology are also included in the curriculum, being taught to university students.”

‘His philosophy of life opens the doors to women’s freedom’

Semira Al Ahmed underlined that the philosophy of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan opened the doors to women’s freedom and empowered women. “Thanks to his philosophy, women now participate in all decision-making positions. The women of North and East Syria have achieved significant gains by playing important roles in all facets of life, including military. Today, women participate in all decision-making positions in the region controlled by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) thanks to the philosophy of leader Öcalan.”

Semira Al Ahmed also spoke about the 26th anniversary of the international conspiracy against Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan. “An aggravated isolation has been imposed on leader Öcalan in the prison island of Imrali for 26 years. Our system in North and East Syria is based on the Democratic Nation Project of leader Öcalan and the Turkish state wants this system to fail. February 15 is a day of mourning for not only the Kurdish people but all people believing in his thoughts and philosophy. As the people of North and East Syria, we demand physical freedom for leader Öcalan. 2025 must be the year of freedom for leader Öcalan.”