Women will take to the streets with their traditional clothes

Women in the cities of NE Syria have made preparation for International Women’s Day on March 8 with great enthusiasm. They began to sew their traditional clothes a month ago to wear them on their day. Kurdish, Yazidi, Arab, Armenian and Christian women will attend the activities and events by wearing their traditional clothes.

ROJ HOZAN

Qamishlo - International Women's Day is celebrated enthusiastically in the cities of NE Syria. This year, they are going to hold many activities and events for International Women’s Day. They have already begun to sew their traditional clothes to wear during the celebrations.

“We will attend the celebration by wearing our traditional clothes”

Hesna Mihemed, a member of the Syrian Free Women's Foundation, told us that the 8^th March is the beginning of the women's struggle against injustice and oppression. Stating that they keep their culture alive against assimilation policies, she said that they will attend the celebration for International Women’s Day by wearing their traditional clothes/dresses. “Our traditional clothes show the beauty of spring and the struggle of women.”

Women began to make preparations a month ago

Indicating that women began to sew their traditional clothes a month ago, Hesna Mihemed said, “We prepare our clothes and accessories before the 8^th March. We want Kurdish traditional clothes to become a culture in society; women should wear their traditional clothes not just on March 8 but every day. Unfortunately, Kurdish people wear their traditional clothes only during celebrations but we hope that all our women will wear these clothes every day. I wish a happy 8^th March to all resisting women.”

“8^th March is a legacy for all women”

Hediya Şemo, the board member of the Yazidi Women's Union, spoke to NuJINHA and said, “First of all, I wish a happy 8^th March to all women in behalf of all Yazidi women. 8th March is a legacy for all women. Women have celebrated International Women’s Day against the patriarchal mentality for years. All women come together on March 8 and this is a victory of the women's struggle. Our history is our future. Women have taken to the streets on March 8 despite all the attacks and massacres against them. All days should be like March 8 for all women. As Yazidi women, we have made preparations for International Women’s Day. The main feature of our clothes is that our dresses are white; as everyone knows, white symbolizes peace. Yazidi women have worn their white clothes in every part of life and they have preserved their culture and language as well as their folklore. As Yazidi women, our message for women is that; all women should strengthen their solidarity with each other. We wish a happy 8^th March to all women in the world.”

“Arab women have embraced the real meaning of IWD”

Xod El-Elî, the spokesperson of the Zenûbiya Women's Community, told us that Arab women welcome International Women’s Day with great enthusiasm. “Arab women in Syria have embraced the real meaning of International Women’s Day. We are no different from other nations in the region. As Arab women, we are proud of ourselves when we participate in the celebrations on March 8 with our folklore. Our clothes show the strength and courage of women. Most of our clothes are dark-colored and they show our authenticity. We are going to hold many activities and events in Manbij, Deir ez-Zor, Tabqa, and Raqqa on March 8.”

“We want to celebrate IWD with the resisting spirit of Ishtar”

Miryana İsa, the co-chair of the Syrian Christian Youth Association, told us about their activities and events for International Women’s Day.  “We started with a revolution that defines the reality of women, and thus we reached the real meaning of International Women’s Day and built that spirit inside ourselves. We have a rich history, from the goddess Ishtar to Queen Semiramis. We want to celebrate IWD with the resisting spirit of these women. As Christian women, our folklore differs from other women, for example, many of our clothes show the glory of women. The symbol of willed and determined women is the beginning of Christian women’s folklore. I wish a happy 8^th March to all women in the region and Syrian women.”

Armenian women are ready for IWD

Anuş Teteryan, a member of the Women's Committee of the Armenian Community Council, spoke to NuJINHA about their activities for International Women’s Day. “Armenians were subjected to genocide before. That’s why we want to revive our folklore and culture in the person of women activists on March 8. Today, everything has changed; Armenians have preserved culture, identity, and existence. Like other nations in the region, we also have a valuable culture and history. Our clothes that define the beauty of women consist of shirts, shawls, aprons, hats, belts, and wristbands. Our clothes are our identity. We, as Armenian women, are ready for International Women’s Day.”

Tomorrow: Mother of Avaşin Kesra: I planted a flower in Afrin on March 8