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Dear friends, dear comrades, dear sisters,
here is the next update from Rojava, the heart of the women’s revolution.
Further progress was made in the integration agreement negotiations last week. SDF commander Çiya Kobanê was appointed deputy commander of the 60th Division, a unit of the Syrian Army. The 60th Division is primarily stationed in northern and eastern Aleppo and thus wields considerable influence over military control in the region.
It is a positive development that an SDF commander is being included in positions of responsibility in the region. Aleppo still bears the scars of the attacks that began on January 6th at the beginning of this year. Those displaced during that time have still not returned, and the infrastructure is still being rebuilt.
Furthermore, we recall that Aleppo was chosen as a strategic target for the initial attacks. The history of Aleppo, as well as the political interests of the region and the trade routes leading to Turkey, are fiercely contested by the fascist Turkish state.
Equally significant was the appointment of Sîpan Hemo as commander of the People’s Protection Units (YPG). He assumed the post of Deputy Minister of Defense on March 10th and was thus officially integrated into the Syrian military structure.
Mala Jin
We spoke with the women of Mala Jin about the integration agreement.
Mala Jin is a women’s organization in northeastern Syria that all segments of society can contact to resolve conflicts within the family or with others. One goal is to achieve full equality for women within families and neighborhoods. Mala Jin develops a new form of justice and conflict resolution based on dialogue and mediation. The first Mala Jin was officially opened in Qamishlo on March 20, 2011.
Given that the Syrian Transitional Government does not recognize women’s organizations, we asked the women what the uncertainties surrounding further funding mean for the Mala Jin organization.
Behiya Murad, spokesperson for Mala Jin in Qamishlo, responded: “You know, we are not afraid. We initially carried out the work of Mala Jin without pay. We only started receiving money for our work in 2019. We organized underground at the beginning, and we will do so again if necessary. For us, women’s freedom is the foundation for an equal and democratic life for all.”
The women of Mala Jin appear very militant and determined. The power of the women’s revolution lies in independent, social organization and cannot be destroyed by the Syrian state.
The importance of women in the integration process
To date, no official position has been given to a woman. Just this Monday, the Syrian Transitional Government announced that no woman will serve in the Syrian army.
Ster Qasim, an activist and member of the Women’s Council of North and East Syria, an association of women from diverse ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds, also emphasizes the importance of enshrining the rights of Syrian women in the constitution. Syrian women must have a voice in political decisions and actively participate in drafting the constitution. She stressed that the new Syrian constitution must respect ethnic, racial, national, and social diversity, stating:
“Women are part of society, and the constitutional provisions should be unambiguous to guarantee women’s rights while also complying with international law and norms.”
Drone Attack
A former US military base in northeastern Syria was attacked by drones on Monday evening. The target was the Kharab al-Jir base, which had been vacated only about a month earlier as part of an agreement between the SDF and the Syrian Transitional Government.
Several drones carrying explosives and missiles were apparently used. Sîpan Hemo, SDF commander and deputy defense minister for the eastern regions, blamed pro-Iranian groups and stated that the attack originated from Iraqi territory. He sharply criticized the Iraqi authorities and demanded that such attacks be prevented in the future.
No one was injured, but the facility sustained damage.
The base is located near Rimêlan and was formerly an important logistical hub for the international anti-ISIS coalition. US troops are no longer present. Instead, the site is currently being used jointly by Asayish forces from Rojava and units of the Syrian government.
Release of YPJ Fighter Narin Axin
Narîn Axîn, a YPJ fighter, has returned to her unit in northeastern Syria after two months of captivity. She was arrested in Deir ez-Zor at the end of January during an offensive by the Syrian Transitional Government and allied militias. The video showing her captivity along with fellow fighter Amara Intîqam garnered worldwide attention.
Axîn is from Manbij and is of Arab descent. She describes her decision to join the YPJ in 2022 as a break with traditional gender roles: “I wanted to break free from the way of life imposed on me and become a fighter defending her country,” she says. Within the YPJ, she not only received military training but also underwent a process of personal transformation. “There, I learned to understand myself and build a new identity,” Axîn explained.
On March 19, she was released as part of a prisoner exchange, along with seven other women, including three YPJ fighters. Despite her imprisonment, Axîn emphasizes that she never gave up her resistance.
Today, Narîn Axîn is back in the ranks of the YPJ. Her message is directed at other women in captivity: “Whether political, civilian, or military—I say to all women in prison: Believe in yourselves. In my captivity, they called me a ‘gift.’ Today I stand here: in uniform, upright and strong.”
And with that, we bid you farewell with revolutionary greetings from Rojava
