JÎNDA AMARA

Hasakah- After the women’s revolution started in North and East Syria on July 19, 2011, Women's Defense Units (YPJ) was founded on April 4, 2012. ISIS formed by the male-dominant systems were defeated by the women’s resistance woven with the philosophy of 'Jin, Jiyan, Azadi'. The resistance of the YPJ has become a role model showing how self-defense is important for women all around the world. While there are several days to the International Women’s Day, the destruction, pillage, occupation, rape and massacres created by the nation-state and patriarchal mentality have once again shown us the importance of self-defense for everyone, especially for women.

NuJINHA spoke to YPJ Commander Rohilat Efrîn about how self-defense is important for women’s struggle growing all around the world, from Kurdistan to Iran, from Afghanistan to Argentina. “The YPJ is not only a military force; it also makes efforts to preserve culture and identity. Self-defense şs as viştal as bread and water for women,” she said.

“We can say that the YPJ is the defender of culture and language. Without culture, there is no life. Therefore, the YPJ defends Kurdish culture. This stance has affected all women in four parts of Kurdistan and Middle East. For thousands of years, women's bodies, existence, thoughts and language have been under attacks; women have been killed. We live in a period in which the patriarchal mentality oppresses women. However, the Women’s Defense Units have broken the taboos by taking its strength from the YPJ commanders, who lost their lives while defending their people, culture.

‘The YPJ defends all women’

“The YPJ has become a light by fighting the forces that left our society in the dark. Surely, the YPJ did not emerge from nowhere; it emerged thanks to the continuation of the legacy of women's resistance. We can say that the YPJ defends and represents all women. Therefore, YPJ thinks women's defense is as important as bread and water. Without culture and language, there is no body, soul or heart. The YPJ has been playing a leading role in self-defense in North and East Syria and the Middle East.”

‘The patriarchal systems aim to enslave women’

Speaking about the aim of the patriarchal systems, Rohilat Efrîn said, “The patriarchal systems aim to enslave women. They do not want women to be free and make decisions on their own lives. Therefore, women should think about the concept of freedom in order not to become slaves. The YPJ is a defense force protecting women; it has rescued women whose freedom was stolen from them. In other words, the YPJ fights the patriarchal mentality aiming to enslave women. The YPJ played an important role in many operations to liberate cities. For instance, the YPJ played an important role in the liberation of Manbij. The YPJ fought the reactionary ISIS mentality in Kobanê. The resistance of the YPJ has become a role model for women all around the world.”

‘Oppressed and marginalized women join the YPJ’

“Oppressed and marginalized women join the YPJ to rise up against the patriarchal mentality,” Rohilat Efrîn said, “Now, these women believe in themselves to fight this mentality. They want to fight to have a free life and to preserve the values of their society. Women from many countries visit North and East Syria to learn more about the resistance of the YPJ. The YPJ has become an umbrella for women to defend their people, culture and language. Today, Arab, Kurdish and Syriac women unite to fight the patriarchal mentality thanks to the ideology of the YPJ. The ideology of the YPJ aims to unite all women."

‘The power of self-confident women leads to the women's revolution in Rojhilat Kurdistan and Iran’

Speaking about the women’s uprising that started in Rojhilat Kurdistan and Iran following the killing of Jina Mahsa Amini, Rohilat Efrîn said, “The power of self-confident women leads to the women’s revolution in Rojhilat Kurdistan and Iran. During the anti-regime protests, women raise their voices against the patriarchal mentality. Now, women demand their freedom; they do not accept slavery by chanting the slogan Jin, Jiyan, Azadi. Women in Rojhilat Kurdistan, Iran and even in Afghanistan see the YPJ as a model to fight the patriarchal mentality.”

 ‘The YPJ will be more active on March 8 this year compared to previous years’

Rohilat Efrîn also talked about the earthquakes that struck Northern Kurdistan, Turkey and Syria and the International Women’s Day. “The earthquakes upset everyone. As the YPJ, we will grow our solidarity to heal our wounds together on the International Women’s Day. This year, we will observe the International Women's Day with the philosophy of Jin, Jiyan and Azadî. The YPJ will be more active on March 8 this year compared to previous years. We have the power to respond to all attacks against women. All women should unite under the slogan Jin, Jiyan, Azadî on the International Women’s Day to say no to attacks on women.”