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Dear friends,
We are writing to you with the latest news from Rojava, the heart of the women’s revolution. In recent days, art and culture have been a particularly prominent theme in Rojava society.
Commemoration of the Internationalist Fallen
Every year in Rojava, a commemoration is held for the internationalists who died in the struggle for a free life and in defense of the Rojava Revolution. Hundreds of people came together this year to remember the dreams and ideals of the fallen. They lived and died for a just and liberated life, where people can be themselves. For a life based on community and love.
The struggle of the fallen was honored through plays, poems, video messages from family members, and dances.
Flowers, firmly rooted in the earth and in full bloom, growing and arranged among the images of the fallen, symbolize the hope for freedom.
The participants proudly carry the ideas, inspiration, courage, and determination of the fallen in their hearts and continue to live them on.
- Sehîd Namirin – The fallen are immortal.
World Theatre Day
On the occasion of March 27, World Theatre Day, the Kurdish cultural organizations TEV-ÇAND and Hunera Mizgîn emphasized the importance of art and cultural work.
The role of theatre in social and political resistance is of particular importance in our time, the age of capitalist modernity. The mind and thinking are strongly influenced by capitalist modernity. Society is increasingly exposed to a feeling of meaninglessness and powerlessness. To counteract this, it is important to spread hope for a fulfilling and just life. Art and culture play a vital role in this. They offer us opportunities to ignite the spirit of resistance and the fire of freedom.
Revolutionary Theater
This week we attended the revolutionary play Mamma Togni by the theater group Komina Şano. The play, written by Franca Rame and Dario Fo, was performed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the death of the author and director Dario Fo.
The idea to honor Dario Fo with a performance of his play originated in the mountains of Kurdistan, where art and culture are an integral part of life.
Mamma Togni is a dramatic monologue set in post-World War II Italy. The play tells the story of Giuseppina Modena, also known as Mamma Tongi, a mother, anti-fascist, and revolutionary.
The theater group expanded the monologue to include the voices of mothers from Kurdistan.
The play demonstrates that fascism in Italy is the same misanthropic ideology as that espoused by ISIS, the Turkish state, and the Syrian interim government. It is based on the same logic of state power and the exclusion and murder of all those who do not conform to its ideology.
At the beginning of the play, Mamma Togni is preparing food when she learns of a fascist rally in the marketplace. She knows fascism from her own experience and understands that such assemblies must not be legitimized. She sets off for the marketplace. Mamma Togni, a woman deeply rooted in society and history, raises her voice. As a symbolic act, she strikes the microphone stand and the speaker with her walking stick. The rally is disrupted, and the community rises up in protest. The police arrive just as quickly and arrest her and the protesters, but even in prison, the protest cannot be suppressed.
With the support of the community, Mamma Togni wins the release of the prisoners.
Another scene focuses on her role as a mother to fallen freedom fighters. With the death of her son, who fell fighting against fascism, she became the mother of society.
Deeply moved, the audience rose to their feet at the end of the performance, applauding and singing “Bella Ciao.”
Attacks on Religious Minorities
Suweida
The United Nations report documents massive violence during the attacks on Suweida in July. These attacks resulted in the deaths of 1,700 people and the displacement of approximately 200,000 others. The UN Commission of Inquiry speaks of possible war crimes and sees indications that crimes against humanity may also have occurred.
Seqlbiya
Nevertheless, the people of Suweida draw strength from organizing and are taking to the streets to demonstrate. Last Saturday, residents gathered and protested in solidarity with the people of Seqlbiya, who were attacked by Islamist groups on Friday.
Seqlbiya is a predominantly Christian town in the Hama province. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reports that the attacks were triggered by the harassment of several young girls by men from the neighboring town of Qalaat al-Madiq. This assault was prevented by the intervention of bystanders.
In response, the attackers mobilized for looting, destruction, and acts of violence.
The city’s residents then organized a sit-in to protest the recent tensions, hold those responsible accountable, and curb the proliferation of uncontrolled weapons in the region.
Fascist Mentality
We are increasingly witnessing attacks by a fascist state ideology, a power of hatred, and the genocide of identities in Syria. This is reflected above all in the attacks on religious minorities, such as the Druze, Alawite, and Christian populations. These attacks are characterized by a policy of division and enormous violence.
On the effects of a fascist state mentality, Kongra Star has published the brochure “The Hate Machine and Identity Genocide in Syria (2025-2026),” which can be read on their website.
To counter the fascist state mentality, protests have been announced against the visit of the self-proclaimed Syrian president, Al-Jolani, on March 30th in Berlin.
And with that, revolutionary greetings from Rojava.
