YPJ General Command statement on situation of captured fighter Çîçek Kobanê

In recent days, jihadist gangs allied with the Turkish state released videos of a their mercenaries capturing and threatening a YPJ fighter. “Take her to slaughter,” one gang member jeers as they crowd around the wounded woman on the ground. There’s no question they are referring to the kind of misogynistic violence we’ve seen before from their group and from similar ones. This is not taking a prisoner of war, this is kidnap with intent to murder. YPJ identified this woman as their comrade Çîçek Kobanê. For now her welfare and whereabouts are still unknown. YPJ released the following statement:

To the general public

On the evening of the 21st of October at 9pm the jihadist gangs of the occupying Turkish state forces attack the village of Mişrefa in the area of Ayn Issa. There was a fierce struggle between our forces and the jihadist gangs. Our comrade Çîçek Kobanê was wounded in the leg and fell into the hands of Erdogan’s jihadists.

Our comrade Çîçek was born in Kobane. As a young woman she took her place defending her land and people in the war against IS. In the current resistance, as the people of North and East Syria are defending their honour, she defended the dignity and very existence of her people. On the front lines of Ayn Issa she joined took her place in the resistance. A ceasefire was declared, but the occupying Turkish state and their allied jihadist gangs did not stop their attacks, not abiding by any moral code or international law. In the face of these murderous acts, comrade Çîçek explained her decision with these words: “We will not allow these gangs to occupy our villages and towns and destroy our dignity.”

Çîçek Kobanê

In the same manner as IS, the Turkish state’s allied gangs are attacking the very existence of women. This brutal attack on a young woman and her defence of her land is an attack on all women. By spreading videos like the one of comrade Çîçek they want to disguise their setbacks and weaknesses in the face of our resistance. The defilement of our comrade Çîçek symbolises their attitude to all women, in particular women of North and East Syria.

Our injured comrade has fallen into the hands of the Turkish state’s jihadist allies. Her life is in the great danger. We say to the whole world, the life of this young woman is under the biggest threat. This is obvious from the brutal videos which have been spread by the jihadist gangs completely openly before the eyes of the world. These disgusting acts are a result of the political agreements between the American, Russian and Turkish states.

On this basis we say immediate intervention from the international community is urgently needed. We call out to all women and human rights organisations internationally to raise their voices against these brutal mercenaries in the employ of the Turkish state. To stay silent in the face of these immoral acts is to be complicit in acts against all of humanity. In the face of these attempts to break the spirit of women, all women must stand up and be a unified voice.

YPJ General Command.

25.10.2019

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