VIYAN AMED

Qamishlo - Women protecting the values and existence of their society have been targeted by ruling powers for centuries. The sovereign powers, which have been attacking Kurdistan for centuries, have been also carrying out special policies against women. Undoubtedly, women have been waging an unprecedented struggle against misogynous policies and the patriarchal mentality despite all the obstacles, pressure and attacks against them. While a ‘women’s revolution’ has been experienced in Rojava Kurdistan, women have been leading the resistance in Iran and Rojhilat by chanting the slogan “Jin, Jiyan, Azadi”. Women in Bakur (North) and Başûr (South) Kurdistan have been resisting despite all the repression policies of the Turkish and Iraqi states. NuJINHA spoke to Arzo Temo, spokesperson of the Sara Organization to Combat Violence against Women, about the unending resistance of women.

‘Laws pave the way for femicide’

Pointing to the struggle waged by women against gender-based violence in the four parts of Kurdistan, Arzo Temo said, “The policies carried out against women never change. For several years, women living in Rojava Kurdistan have been experiencing the women’s revolution. They make efforts to make this revolution to be a more successful revolution. In addition, women have been taking to the streets of Iran and Rojhilatê Kurdistan for several months. Women are subjected to repression policies in both Bakur and Başûr Kurdistan. There is no law protecting women in both Bakur and Başûr Kurdistan. The current laws allow all forms of violence against women and pave the way for femicide, rape and child marriage.”

‘The will of women is targeted’

Underling that the AKP has been attacking the moral values of society with its religion politics, Arzo Temo said, “The Turkish state has been carrying out a special policy to create an immoral society and to destroy the will of women. The will of women is targeted. The Turkish state has been targeting the will of women because it knows that women are architects of their societies. The marriage of a six-year-old girl sparked anger in Turkey. These unlawful and immoral practices are openly carried out. There are thousands of similar incidents hidden under the name of religion. Those religious organizations have connections with the AKP and MHP.”

‘Iraq and Turkey have the same policies’

Indicating that the misogynous policies carried out by the Iraqi government are the same policies carried out by the Turkish government, Arzo Temo said, “The attitudes of all countries are the same when it comes to women. Especially, Iraq and Turkey have the same policies.”

‘The laws are against women’

Commenting on some laws of the Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, Arzo Temo said, “Iraq and the Kurdistan Region have laws protecting women. However, these laws do not protect women; they are against women. The number of the female genital mutilation cases have been increasing in both Iraq and Başûr Kurdistan. This shows us that there is no law protecting women in Başûr Kurdistan. Every year, hundreds of women are killed and raped and more die under suspicious circumstances.”

‘It takes its inspiration from the women’s revolution in Rojava’

Speaking about the protests that sparked in Iran and Rojhilatê Kurdistan following the killing of Kurdish woman Jîna Mahsa Amînî, Arzo Temo said, “The fascism of the Iranian state is against women's rights. The state uses all kinds of systems and methods to deprive women of their rights. The killing of Jîna Amînî sparked the women’s revolution in Iran and Rojhilatê Kurdistan. For three months, women have been chanting the slogan, ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadi”. Surely, this revolution takes its enthusiasm and inspiration from the women's revolution in Rojava Kurdistan.”

Underling that women will break the chains of slavery and defeat the patriarchal mentality by struggling, Arzo Temo said, “Women strengthen the values and existence of their society. Women should speak out against the policies of the Iraqi government and Turkish government. As Sara Organization, we know that women can break the chains of slavery and defeat the patriarchal mentality by struggling. The resistance of women in Rojhilat and Rojava Kurdistan has become a role model for women all around the world.”