DILPAK DAĞ

Aleppo- The balances have been reshaped in Syria since the fall of Assad’s regime in Syria while the Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions have intensified their attacks on North and East Syria.

Despite all the developments, women of North and East Syria, including Arab, Turkmen, Kurdish and Yazidi, are determined to resist to make the 21st century “as the century of women”.

‘The people of Syria should determine the future of Syria’

“Throughout history, Syria has become the home of the Arab, Christian, Circassian, Armenian, Yazidi, Kurdish, Alevi, Druze and Syriac people. Syria is known for its mosaic of people and multiculturalism,” said Roşîn Mûsa, a Yazidi woman living in Aleppo. “You can see this mosaic in our neighborhood, Sheikh Maqsoud. People from different nationalities and religions live together in this neighborhood and almost all of them have been subjected to torture, oppression and massacres.”

‘Yazidis have been subjected to massacres’

Roşîn Mûsa also talked about the occupation policies, attacks and regime oppression against ethnic groups in Syria. “There are many Alevi people living in Afrin and they have been oppressed for their religion, language and being Kurdish. The Yazidis are also a religious minority being subjected to massacres. The Yazidis do not give up their religion although they have been subjected to massacres. Therefore, assimilation policies have been implemented against them. Yazidism has strong historical roots. There were many Yazidis in Afrin; however, our places of worship were burned, destroyed and plundered by the Turkish state and its armed groups. They built mosques on our places of worship. Despite all the attacks, Yazidism still has strong roots.”

Speaking about the ongoing attacks of the Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions on North and East Syria and the resistance against them, Roşîn Mûsa said, “Today, Arab, Kurdish, Alevi, Yazidi and Christian women fight together. This shows us that women have already achieved national unity and a common resistance against occupying policies. The new Syria must be democratic country embracing all people from different nationalities and religions. As Yazidi women fighting for freedom and democracy, we are ready to build unity in our region with our culture, language and religion. We are ready to resist and fight to defend our region. In Aleppo, Arab, Christian, Kurdish and Turkmen women have united under the umbrella of the women’s freedom movement. Women have the power to build a new and free Syria together with the thoughts and philosophy of leader Apo.”

‘We must unite to build a free Syria’

Roşîn Mûsa concluded her speech, saying, “When Afrin was occupied by the Turkish state and its armed groups, they tried to force all people, particularly Yazidis, to convert into Islam. We reject such practices and we must unite to build a free Syria, against the policies of the Turkish state and its armed groups.”