Dear friends and comrades,
Today is February 26, 2026, and here is our daily update from Rojava, the heart of the women’s revolution. First, we want to tell you about Kobane.
Kidnappings, executions, and looting in Kobane
The siege of Kobane continues. It is now 36 days in, and the Syrian interim government still does not appear to be withdrawing its troops. This is a deliberate war strategy intended to break the will of the people. During the siege, in which people are living at the limits of their strength, they are also being robbed by pro-Turkish jihadist militias. At the beginning of the siege on January 20, many families had to leave their homes in villages surrounding Kobane for their own safety. Particularly in the villages of Çelebiyê and Sirîn, armed groups from the pro-Turkish jihadist militias affiliated with the Damascus Ministry of Defense—the Sultan Murad Brigade, Furqat al-Hamza, Al-Amshat, and the 42nd and 72nd Fırka—are increasingly breaking into homes. The looting of civilians is similar to previous war strategies employed by the Turkish state, its proxies, and the so-called Islamic State. Looting deprives people of their livelihoods, fuels insecurity, and spreads an atmosphere of fear. The attackers often film the attacks and spread them to terrify the people with these acts of violence.
Ilham Ehmed and Rohilat Efrin reported on the seriousness of the situation in Kobani and the resurgence of ISIS for the first time at a press conference in the European Parliament in Brussels. How international forces will react to this will become clear in the future.
Press conference at the European Parliament in Brussels
While Ehmed and Efrin called on the European Union to act as a guarantor in the negotiations with Damascus, they emphasized that any support for them is support for peace and democracy. Evin Incir, MEP for the progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, stated: “The European Union owes the Kurds a debt; it must not abandon them.” While the integration agreement was a first step, many points and details remain unresolved. This negotiation process requires guarantees from international powers. Ilham Ehmed said at the press conference: “There are still no guarantees about how this process will work. Through these meetings, we want to make our voices heard.” Especially during a period of IS resurgence and the threat of war, it is crucial to have international support and guarantees. An important aspect of this is the integration of the YPJ into the Syrian Army. Because the YPJ is not only essential for fighting IS, but also provides real protection for women.
SDF contradict Damascus statements on Camp Hol
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) released a statement yesterday regarding the events surrounding the Al-Hol camp. Approximately 25,000 IS members, mostly women and children, were held at the Al-Hol camp. Following the takeover by the Syrian Transitional Government, all of them were released or escaped, thus posing a significant security risk for Syria and beyond. After the release of the IS prisoners, and the resulting resurgence of IS, the Syrian Transitional Government is now attempting to deflect responsibility and hold the SDF security forces accountable. The SDF, based on its analysis of audio and video footage of the events surrounding the al-Hol camp, stated: “The withdrawal of SDF units was a consequence of a direct attack by groups from Damascus who targeted the camp and its surroundings. The abduction and forced removal of the IS militants’ families occurred after these groups from Damascus entered the camp. Furthermore, in recent years, the SDF forces have assumed the greatest responsibility for dealing with IS members, adhering to all possible humanitarian and security standards.”
“Jin, Jiyan, Azadî” is a model for freedom.
European academics are currently discussing the political content of “hope” in light of the attacks on Rojava. They see the philosophy of “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî” as a perspective for freedom and a democratic society. Hope is a central pillar of this philosophy. The words Jin Jiyan Azadî are not merely words of protest, but contain a profound analysis of power structures and describe a model for a democratic society. Where has our freedom been lost? What does freedom mean to us? These are key questions that are being brought to the forefront. Mechthild Exo said, “If we want to think about freedom, we have to start where it has been lost,” adding that patriarchal violence still shapes all social relationships today. “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî” expresses how social conditions should be viewed and how a perspective of freedom can be constructed. Against this backdrop, social relationships can also be analyzed and questioned. “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî” leads us to the historical roots of power and oppression, namely the colonization of women and gender hierarchies. She stated that the subjugation of women represents the first form of oppression and that other forms of domination, such as state repression, capitalist exploitation, and racism, are built upon this foundation. We see that women’s freedom is central to creating a free and democratic life in peace. Only when every woman in the world is liberated will we be a liberated society. And with that in mind, we send revolutionary greetings from Rojava.
