listen here to the message:
Dear friends,
We are writing to you from Rojava, the heart of the women’s revolution.
Rojava is a region in northeastern Syria where a socialist-democratic revolution was declared in 2012. The people here organize themselves according to the social and administrative model of Democratic Confederalism. This concept was developed by Abdullah Öcalan, a leading figure of the Kurdish freedom movement.
According to this model, people organize themselves through grassroots democracy in councils, committees, communes, and women’s structures. Women’s liberation, according to the philosophy of “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî,” is a central pillar of a democratic society. Only when all women are free can society as a whole live in freedom.
Commemoration of Malda Kosar
Malda Kosar, a member of the Jineology Academy, was murdered by ISIS on May 5, 2019, on her way to al-Hol. On the fourth anniversary of her death, a memorial ceremony was held in Heseke, attended by members of the Jineology Academy and the organization Kongra Star.
After a minute of silence, those present spoke about Malda’s work in Jineology. Rozaf Ehmed, a member of the Jineology Academy, expressed condolences to her family and said:
“We commemorate all martyrs of freedom, especially Malda Kosar. She was a martyr in the struggle of women for freedom. Although she was still young, she worked tirelessly for women who wanted to live in a free society. Malda was a strong personality and was dedicated daily to the social sciences. She actively worked to strengthen awareness of women’s freedom. Today, we follow in the path of our comrade and will intensify our struggle and resistance to realize her goals.”
Nûda Salih from Kongra Star also emphasized that the concept of the free woman has spread through the efforts of Malda Kosar and her comrades:
“Today, the philosophy ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadî’ is known worldwide. Living a free and dignified life is not easy—we pay a high price for it. Long live the free woman!”
May 4 – Commemoration of Dersim
On May 4, many people in Rojava and around the world commemorate the genocide against the Alevi-Kurdish population in Dersim in 1937/38. Tens of thousands of people were killed or deported. To this day, there has been no comprehensive reckoning or recognition as genocide.
Survivors and their descendants refer to this day as “Tertele”—the day “the world came to an end”—or “Roza Reş” (the black day).
Between 70,000 and 80,000 people were killed in the massacre, and tens of thousands more were deported. At the time, the international community remained silent, thereby legitimizing the genocide.
The background was the policy of homogenization, Turkification, and Islamization pursued by then-president Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Non-Turkish populations were to be assimilated; their languages and identities were banned and continue to be suppressed to this day.
In response, an uprising formed in 1937 under the leadership of Seyit Riza. Armed resistance was organized in part by Alişer and Zarife. Women played a central role in this struggle. The demands included self-administration, reforms, and the right to existence and land.
The state responded with military force. On May 4, 1937, the Turkish army was tasked with implementing a “final solution” to the “Dersim problem”—marking the beginning of the genocide. To this day, there has been no full investigation or accountability by the Turkish state.
Iran
With great pain and deep sorrow, we are following developments in Iran. In recent weeks, numerous political prisoners and protesters have been executed.
Mehrab Abdollahzadeh, a protester from Urmia in Eastern Kurdistan, was executed early Sunday morning. The judiciary accused him of being responsible for the death of a Basij member.
Mehdi Rassouli, Mohammad Reza Miri, and Ebrahim Dolatabadi were also executed in connection with the protests. According to official reports, they were accused of spying for Israel and cooperating with intelligence services.
In the past two and a half months, at least 25 political prisoners have been executed, and many more are at risk of execution, including Kurdish political prisoners.
The list of executions continues to grow daily. We will not remain silent.
The Mothers for Peace in Rojhilat are calling for an immediate end to the executions of political prisoners. PJAK also supports this call and urges international pressure and collective mobilization.
New Water Tanks in Qamishlo
An additional water tank is being built in Qamishlo to secure supply and cushion outages. The water infrastructure is being expanded with the support of UNICEF.
The additional storage capacity will make it possible to build water reserves and ensure emergency supply in the future.
Water scarcity is partly the result of Turkish policies that have, for years, used water as a means of pressure by regulating rivers and withholding water.
The consequences include crop failures, depleted wells, the spread of disease, and ecological damage. In recent years, water facilities have also been repeatedly bombed, such as the Alok station, leading to displacement.
Rising Bread Prices in Cizîrê
Bread prices are rising significantly in Qamishlo and Hesekê. In the Cizîrê region, prices are increasing from 4,000 to 5,500 Syrian pounds.
The reason is rising production costs, especially due to the increase in diesel prices from 15 to 55 US cents per liter. Exchange rate fluctuations have also contributed. The price adjustment was demanded by bakery operators.
YPJ Demonstration
On Wednesday, a large solidarity march with the YPJ took place in Qamishlo. Hundreds of people gathered in the streets, carrying YPJ flags and flower symbols.
Together they chanted: “We are all YPJ.”
The Kurdistan Women’s Communities (KJK) support the campaign “We are all YPJ” and call for recognition of the Women’s Protection Units. The refusal of their status by Damascus is seen as an ideological attack on women’s rights.
With revolutionary greetings from Rojava
