News Center- The Women's Protection Units or Women's Defense Units (YPJ) has released a written statement to mark the second anniversary of the “Jin, Jiyan, Azadi” uprising that sparked in Iran and Eastern Kurdistan following the killing of Jina Mahsa Amini by Iran’s so-called “morality police”.

“On the second anniversary of the ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadi’ uprising that started in the city of Saqqez following the killing of Kurdish woman Jina Mahsa Amini in Tehran and the spread across Iran and Rojhilat Kurdistan, we commemorate all the martyrs of the revolution in the person of Jina Amini,” the statement said, recalling that Kurdish women have achieved many gains against the patriarchal mindset in their 50-year struggle.

“One of the struggles of leader Apo (Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan) is the struggle against the patriarchal system. Women have made significant progress in many areas such as ideology, organization, self-defense, co-presidential system and Jineology. Women have been waging a radical struggle against rape culture, the patriarchal system and the mindset of the male-dominated nation-state by forming a democratic nation system.”

‘One language, one gender, one sect and one religion are imposed’

Women in Rojhilat Kurdistan and Iran face a religious, nationalist and male-dominated system, the statement added. “Although the revolution in Iran was started by the joint struggle of the people and women, women’s rights are violated by a group of religious men and one language, one gender, one sect and one religion are imposed on women. Despite all the violations, Kurdish and Iranian women wage a nonstop struggle,” the statement said, underlining that women struggle in prisons, in the streets, in universities, in factories and in all facets of life such as politics, culture and economy.”

‘The Jin, Jiyan, Azadi uprising will continue until social equality is achieved’

Recalling that Jina Mahsa Amini was brutally killed, the statement said, “Jina was buried by people chanting the ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadi’ slogan and an important uprising started in the city of Saqqez that spread across Rojhilat and other cities of Iran. People participating in the protests were subjected to violence by security forces; thousands of people were executed or killed. Despite oppression, the people have taken to the streets against the anti-democratic regime. The Jin, Jiyan, Azadi uprising will continue until social equality is achieved.”