Activist Jiyan Yasin pointed out that many people are arrested in the Federal Kurdistan Region because there is no right to freedom of expression in the region. “If the freedom of expression is suppressed, it will cause an explosion like a volcanic eruption,” she added.

TEWAR PÊNCEWÎNÎ

Sulaymaniyah - The Federal Kurdistan Region has become a region full of corruption, rights violations, and crises due to the policies of the sovereigns. The region’s economic, political and social situation is getting worse day by day and the voices of people demanding freedom are suppressed. Dozens of people are behind bars for their thoughts. People are arrested for their thoughts not only in the Federal Kurdistan region but also in many cities such as Behdînan, Duhok, Zaxo, Şêladîzê, Biradost, Barzan, and many more. Many activists, journalists, and teachers, including Berivan Eyub, a mother of five being held in prison for more than 16 months, were arrested and sentenced to prison.

Women solve problems

Jiyan Yasin, an activist in Duhok, spoke to NuJINHA about the current situation in the region. She told us that the economic, political, and social problems in the Kurdistan Region have increased even more because the current government cannot solve problems. Stating that the people, particularly women, in the Behdinan region have faced great obstacles against their right to freedom of thought and expression, Jiyan Yasin said, “Women cannot be free because they are under the influence of a political and patriarchal mentality. We cannot have peace not only in the Kurdistan Region but also all around the world without women. Women always demand peace so they should take part in decision-making mechanisms to raise the voices of women and find solutions to existing problems.”

Speaking about the increasing femicide cases in the region, she said, “The perpetrators go unpunished by putting pressure on the courts or on families.”

“This situation will not last long”

Recalling that Berivan Eyubi, mother of five, was detained in the Behdinan region for allegedly participating in the demonstrations in Duhok and was held in detention for more than 16 months without standing trial, Jiyan Yasin said, “After March 6, two hearings were held and she was sentenced to two years in prison. She has been behind bars since last year. The local government should know that this situation will not last long. If they continue to act like this, the situation will become even more dangerous because if the freedom of expression is suppressed, it will cause an explosion like a volcanic eruption.”