CAROLINE BAZZI

Beirut- The members of the Women's Defense Units (YPJ) have been fighting along with the members of the People's Defense Units (YPG) to protect their people and lands in North and East Syria since the YPJ was founded in 2013. The members of the YPJ have been also fighting the patriarchal mentality and terrorism to protect women. We spoke to Lebanese activists about the YPJ fighters.

Maha Nammour, a member and activist of the Lebanese Women Democratic Gathering (RDFL), told us that the members of the YPJ are women deciding to fight at the frontline in order to liberate NE Syria. “The YPJ has proved that women can run their country and society. Women also have the power to take up arms and fight for their lands,” Maha Nammour said. that the experiences of women in NE Syria are very important.

In response to our question about how to spread the NE Syrian model of the women’s units in neighboring countries, particularly in Lebanon, she said, “The experience of women in NE Syria is very important. Regarding the possibility of generalizing the Women's Protection Units in the Arab region or in the world, I think every oppressed people can form their resistance mechanisms, it is normal. These mechanisms differ in their forms; military, civil, and intellectual resistance. Women can play this role because they know their people and societies better.”

She visited Hasakah and Qamishlo

Neamat Bader Al Deen, a political activist and parliamentary election candidate for 2022, talked about her visit to NE Syria between 2018 and 2019 and how she met the members of the YPJ. “They told us their experiences and how they defended their lands. We visited their military headquarters. Then, we interviewed the women working for the citizens’ assemblies, municipalities, and committees in neighborhoods. During the interviews, we saw that women play a leading role in society and that they make great efforts to defend their neighborhoods and cities,” Neamat Bader Al Deen said that they also visited the village of Jinwar, a women-only village.

“Palestinian and Kurdish women struggle to protect their lands and identity”

Neamat Bader Al Deen continued to talk as follows: “When we returned to Lebanon, we contacted UN women and other organizations. We asked them to support the women’s units and carry out activities for them. The Palestinian and Kurdish women have a cause. They have been struggling to protect their lands and identity.  They should be supported just as the Ukrainian women are supported now. The members of the YPJ are young women, who have to defend their lands and people against the attacks of Turkey and ISIS.”