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Dear friends,
We are reaching out with the latest news from Rojava, the heart of the Women’s Revolution.
Since 2012, in the wake of the resistance that emerged during the Arab Spring, a revolution has been built and lived in Rojava. This revolution is based on the idea that all people and communities can live together in freedom and democracy. The social system developed by Abdullah Öcalan, the leading thinker of the Kurdish freedom movement, is known as Democratic Confederalism. This system is based on the grassroots democratic organization of society through communes, councils, committees, and women’s institutions. Within this framework, women’s liberation is considered the prerequisite for a free life for society as a whole.
Three YPJ Fighters Previously Declared Dead Among Released Captives
On Monday, we received joyful news.
Among the 28 women fighters from the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) and Asayîşa Jin who were released as part of the recent prisoner exchange between the Syrian transitional government and the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, there are three YPJ fighters who had previously been declared fallen.
Hêzil Arjîn (Şêrîn Izedîn), Awaz Çiya (Melek Ebdulqadir Bozan), and Solîn Rojhilat (Kajîn Seîd Ezîz) are alive. The YPJ had publicly announced the deaths of the three fighters in March and April. Memorial and farewell ceremonies had subsequently been held for them in Qamişlo, Dêrik, and Kobanê.
This news brings joy to many people. At the same time, it reveals the extreme conditions of life and death and the devastating impact that uncertainty has on families and friends. This form of psychological warfare is an attack on society and must be understood in the context of the hostage-taking and attacks that occurred in January.
Alarming Increase in the Number of Women Killed in Syria in May
During the month of May, 287 people were killed across various regions of Syria. This occurred amid ongoing security chaos and increasing violence following the takeover of Damascus by the jihadist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
Among those killed were 15 women who lost their lives through various forms of violence. This is yet another indication of the continuing deterioration of the security situation and the growing dangers faced by civilians, especially women.
Seven Women Killed in Turkey in Less Than One Week
Over the last six days, four women were killed by men in different cities across Turkey and North Kurdistan. Three others were seriously injured in attacks, while another three women died under unexplained circumstances.
Violence against women continues to increase. Since the beginning of Eid al-Adha, four women have been murdered, three have been seriously injured, and three others have died under suspicious circumstances.
Together, we must oppose this violence and strengthen our global connections. To do so, we must know ourselves and our own history. When we understand ourselves, we can build stronger ties with women across the world and recognize the common patterns of oppression that connect our experiences.
Women in Sweida Discuss Decentralization and Independence as a Path to Greater Security
Due to increasing violence against women and the Druze population, including numerous murders in Sweida, people are feeling increasingly unsafe and are searching for new strategies to protect their communities.
This violence is carried out by armed groups as well as through the patriarchal and Islamist mentality of the new transitional government. It leaves deep scars and contributes to social fragmentation. Many people feel abandoned by the wider Syrian population, as they have received little solidarity in efforts to investigate crimes and ensure accountability.
Lawyer Radina Al-Khatib described the attacks carried out by the Syrian transitional government against the region in July 2025 as a “shock to the sense of belonging.”
Many people are expressing the desire for decentralized and independent local administration or self-government as a means of strengthening the stability of their communities.
According to Radina Al-Khatib, such a system would allow the people of the region to manage their political, educational, and security affairs independently of the central government.
Peace Process
In the negotiations and further steps of the peace process, as well as regarding the release of Abdullah Öcalan, the leading thinker of the Kurdish freedom movement, the Turkish state continues to act cautiously and hesitantly, thereby pursuing a strategy of delay. On the 24th, delegates of the DEM Party (Party for Equality and Democracy of the Peoples) were able to continue talks with Abdullah Öcalan for the first time since March.
Öcalan’s Philosophy and His Critique of Turkey’s “Formal Democracy”
Wahida Sayed Ahmed met Abdullah Öcalan personally in the 1990s. Today, she explains the influence of his ideas on the lives of women.
“For a long time, women lived under the authority of their fathers and brothers.
Through a profound analysis of the history of patriarchy, Abdullah Öcalan identifies the oppression of women as a central struggle within the broader struggle for human freedom.
Abdullah Öcalan describes the workings of a patriarchal mentality that manifests itself in the logic and structures of the state, such as power, borders, oppression, and isolation. He sees the leadership of women as the path toward liberation from this mentality and opens new horizons of freedom for women. Women have drawn upon his philosophy to lead their societies toward freedom.”
Wahida Sayed Ahmed is convinced that Öcalan’s call for peace and a democratic society is of great significance for the Kurdish people and the peoples living alongside them.
In contrast, she states:
“The Turkish state has not taken any legal steps in this regard to this day. We Kurds support peaceful and diplomatic solutions through democratic dialogue on the Kurdish question and support ending the bloodshed on both sides, as we have sacrificed many martyrs.”
This call represents a step toward building a democratic society in which all peoples can enjoy their rights and freedoms without exclusion. According to her, the Turkish state’s hesitation to take practical steps toward peace stems from its anti-democratic and fascist mentality.
Outwardly, the Turkish state presents itself as democratic, yet the reality is the opposite. If the Turkish state were genuinely committed to peace, it would have taken legal steps long ago.
She calls on all peoples to participate in the peace process so that everyone involved can achieve their legitimate rights.
The War in Lebanon and Its Consequences for Society
The Israeli military announced that it had carried out a new series of airstrikes on Hezbollah positions in Tyre and other areas of southern Lebanon.
The television channel Channel 12 also reported on parallel political developments related to the military escalation. According to the report, Israel requested a green light from the United States to expand its operations in Lebanon to targets in Beirut. This request is reportedly based on a growing belief within Israeli security circles that pressure on Hezbollah must be increased.
This brutal war creates immense uncertainty, constant threats to life, and further trauma for the people of Lebanon. Many people are fleeing from the south in search of safety.
Many of these people are Syrian refugees who are returning to Syria.
Some belong to families that were displaced from Syria after the events of 2011, while others left Lebanon following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government. Despite the security risks, many have chosen to remain in southern Lebanon for various reasons. A major factor is the demand for Syrian labor in the southern regions, particularly in agriculture and construction, as well as comparatively better living conditions, healthcare, and educational opportunities than those available in some Syrian regions, which continue to suffer from unemployment, lack of reconstruction, and the ongoing consequences of war and displacement.
Euphrates Flooding Submerges Homes and Farmland
Last week, severe flooding occurred along the Euphrates River in Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa.
The flooding was caused by the Turkish state, which opened the Euphrates dams without prior notice.
Thousands of families were forced to flee and abandon their homes. Rising water levels led to the evacuation of several areas, while nearly 50 water pumping stations and power supply facilities ceased operating. In addition, three major earthen bridges in and around Deir ez-Zor collapsed, cutting off connections between the eastern and western banks of the Euphrates—the regions known as “Jazira” and “Shamiya.”
The flooding has also caused significant damage to agriculture and threatens people’s livelihoods. Farmers estimated initial losses in the hundreds of thousands of dollars due to damage to wheat and vegetable crops, as well as the failure of agricultural engines located along the riverbed.
This incident demonstrates the power Turkey holds through its control of the dams and highlights the anti-human manner in which this power is being exercised.
TAJÊ Commemorates the Êzidî Women Burned Alive in Mosul
The Free Êzidî Women’s Movement (TAJÊ) commemorated the 19 Êzidî women who were murdered by the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) in Mosul on June 3, 2016. On the tenth anniversary of this crime, activists gathered in front of the People’s Council of Şengal and demanded justice for the victims of the genocide against the Êzidî community.
The 19 women were among the thousands of Êzidîs abducted by ISIS following the genocide in Şengal on August 3, 2014. They were burned alive in iron cages in a public square in central Mosul. Prior to their execution, they had refused to submit to ISIS fighters as sex slaves and to renounce their faith. The execution took place before hundreds of spectators and was deliberately staged by the terrorist organization as a means of intimidation.
The reason why women in particular are targeted physically and psychologically and are murdered lies in the fact that the patriarchal mentality cannot accept a peaceful and democratic society and seeks to destroy it. Because women embody the values of democracy, diversity, and freedom, and actively shape and create society, they become targets of patriarchal forces.
We must understand these attacks internationally—from our own regions to the global system that lies behind them.
In this spirit: Jin, Jiyan, Azadî!
Revolutionary greetings from Rojava.
