Listen here to the daily update:
Dear friends,
We are writing to you from Rojava, the heart of the women’s revolution, with our daily update.
We congratulate all women worldwide on International Women’s Day and remember all the women who have given their lives fighting for freedom. We also remember all the women who, due to their living conditions, hard work in factories, hospitals, or domestic service, imprisonment, or oppression by men, cannot be on the streets today.
Today, March 8th, protests and demonstrations are taking place throughout Kurdistan.
KJK
The KJK – Community of Women of Kurdistan – calls today for a worldwide struggle of women for freedom, equality, and self-determination, and for a global organization of women against patriarchy, war, and capitalist exploitation. In a statement, they declared: “March 8th is the spirit of democracy and freedom. Despite repression, violence, and massacres, women have organized their resistance in all areas of life—in prisons, in the mountains, on the streets, in factories, in the fields, and in families.”
In light of world events, we see that the struggle of women is central to a free and democratic life. The current global situation is characterized by populist and authoritarian leaders who prioritize their own power interests over democratic values and societal needs.
This is particularly evident in the current attacks in the Middle East. This war is not only a struggle for geopolitical power based on decades of enmity between the US, Israel, and Iran, but also follows a specific state logic. It is about influence, control, and the reshaping of the Middle East.
At the same time, alternative societal models are coming under pressure. Democratic ways of life, such as autonomous self-governance projects that consciously distance themselves from authoritarian, patriarchal, and capitalist ideologies, are under attack. This state logic weakens or destroys communal and grassroots democratic structures, while centralizing and monopolizing key areas of society, such as the economy, education, health, and security. Women, who are the backbone of society, therefore play a crucial role in building a democratic society. It is no secret that wars are fought primarily on the backs of the civilian population. Women and children, in particular, are among those who most frequently experience violence, displacement, and the social consequences of war.
The KJK therefore appeals to women to organize across borders and act in solidarity. The increasing attacks on women’s rights worldwide are closely linked to the crisis of the patriarchal-capitalist system. From sexual violence in the USA to mass rapes in Asia, femicides in Latin America, and the enslavement of women by armed militias in Africa and the Middle East—all these developments must be understood as expressions of the same global system.
Abdullah Öcalan
In a message of greeting for March 8, Abdullah Öcalan emphasizes that the liberation of women is the most important social issue of our time. A democratic and socialist society can only emerge if women live freely, with equal rights, and with self-determination. Therefore, the women’s revolution must be paramount and understood as the foundation for solving all other social problems. At the same time, he points out that theoretical approaches such as democratic modernity and Jineolojî have already been developed to conceptualize women’s liberation. Now, however, it is a matter of putting these ideas into practice and building a corresponding society. Historically, women have played a central role in the emergence of society. Their community-building and constructive role made human coexistence possible in the first place. To create a free future, however, it is essential to understand the historical origins of the oppression and enslavement of women.
YPJ
Today, on March 8th, the YPJ also emphasizes the historical significance of women’s resistance and reaffirms its determination to defend the achievements of the Rojava revolution against attacks and threats. The new integration agreement does not yet enshrine women’s rights or the further implementation of their achievements. Therefore, we must continue to fight and negotiate, step by step, for the details of the agreement and the laws of the Syrian Constitution.
We are fighting for the enshrining of women’s rights, such as maintaining the co-chairmanship, recognizing Jineoliji as a women’s science, integrating the YPJ into the Syrian army, and ensuring the Kurdish language is taught in schools. Women’s institutions, such as women’s shelters, women’s organizations, women’s courts, and councils, must continue to receive consistent funding. Without independent women’s organization, there can be no improvement in living conditions or women’s rights.
Medya
In the Medya Defense Areas, the women’s guerrillas celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8th. In remembrance of the women’s liberation struggle, they sing songs, chant slogans, and perform Govend dances. They emphasize the importance of self-defense and organization. They also commemorate the fallen fighters of the liberation struggle: Deniz, Sîdar, Şîlan, Siyajîn, Arîn, and Çiyajîn. They have “sown the seeds of freedom in this earth” and carry on the struggle for a free and equal life with their legacy.
Qamishlo
In Qamishlo, women are gathering today in a sports hall to protest together on March 8th. Also present were the families of those whose children and relatives are still missing or imprisoned. We see determined women who know that the attacks and the struggle for freedom and democracy are far from over. This determination also sustains the family members of the missing and imprisoned, who are fighting today with great grief and anger. Weeping mothers hold banners with slogans such as “We demand our fallen and missing,” or “We want our children back.” The atmosphere is marked by the pain and loss of the past weeks. Since the attacks by the Syrian interim government, 1,070 prisoners have been held in Syrian prisons, including both civilians and combatants. The Syrian Transitional Government and supporting Turkish militias are being prosecuted for the horrific acts of violence, including killings, mutilation of corpses, massacres, looting, and robbery.
Family Council Kobanê
The Family Council in Kobanê is also demanding answers regarding the missing and the release of prisoners. They say that since the attacks of January 6, killings have primarily been carried out based on cultural, political, or religious affiliation. The relatives criticize the fact that, despite the ceasefire and integration agreement between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian Transitional Government, attacks continue. They call on international forces to continue exerting pressure on the Syrian Transitional Government.
In a meeting with a delegation of family members of the missing and imprisoned, Mazloum Abdi reports that intensive efforts are underway to resolve the problem. The return of the prisoners is contingent on a timely agreed-upon plan. Abdi stated: “Efforts are continuing with high intensity. Prisoners are expected to return to their families in the near future.” Several prisoners on both sides have already been released in recent days. These steps are part of practical measures to resolve the prisoner issue.
And with that, we wish all women a militant day of struggle and send revolutionary greetings from Rojava.
Jin Jiyan Azadi
