NURŞAN EBDÎ

 Kobanê- On September 15, 2014, ISIS began to attack Kobanê, a city in the Euphrates Canton of North and East Syria by using heavy weapons. The Women's Defense Units (YPJ), the People's Defense Units (YPG) and people all around the world, especially from Kurdistan, went to the city to support the resistance against ISIS. After a 134-day resistance, Kobanê was liberated from ISIS. 11 years have passed since the liberation of the city.

The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), which was declared following the liberation of Kobanê, is a key solution for the crisis suffered by the region and the Middle East, said Helen Hajim, Co-chair of the Social Affairs and Labor Authority in Kobanê.

Helen Hajim mentioned the importance of the AANES for the people of the region and said, “The Autonomous Administration is of great importance because it allows the people to govern themselves by participating in communes and councils. Before the declaration of the autonomy, the people of the region, especially the Kurdish people, had been marginalized and oppressed for decades by the genocidal policies of the Baathist regime on politics, culture, economy and social life; the Kurdish people had been deprived of their rights. The Autonomous Administration has provided security and stability to the people. It has ensured equal rights for all people in the region.”

Women and young people play a leading role in the system of the AANES, Helen Hajim stressed. “This system protects women’s rights and identity. It also gives young people the opportunity to participate in the decision-making positions by establishing councils and committees.”

‘The attacks aim to revive ISIS’

Helen Hajim also talked about the recent armed conflicts and wars in the world. “The system based on democracy in northeastern Syria is a model for the whole world.

“Since the fall of the Assad regime, Syria has suffered from conflicts and clashes and this crisis may turn into a sectarian strife in the coming days. This threat confirms the necessity of implementation of the system of the AANES. However, the region is still subjected to attacks and rights violations. The ongoing Turkish attacks on the region aim to revive ISIS.”

Call on international organizations

At the end of her speech, Helen Hajim called on the international community and human rights organizations to take an urgent action “to stop the Turkish attacks on the region. We call on them to put pressure on the Turkish state to stop its attacks on our region and our system.”