We are publishing this statement by the KURDISH WOMEN’S FOREIGN RELATIONS OFFICE in support of the valiant struggle of the Rojava Revolution to defend itself.

The Syrian Interim Government under interim president al-Shaara, has declared war on the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria and its achievements for women. Since 6 January, the situation in the region has been escalating. After militias of the so-called Syrian Interim Government launched a military attack on predominantly Kurdish neighbourhoods in Aleppo, forcing hundreds of thousands of residents to flee and committing brutal massacres, they turned their attacks towards northern and eastern Syria, surrounding them on all sides. Through a genocidal campaign of destruction against the Kurdish people – especially women – the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, a democratic project based on women’s liberation, grassroots democracy, ecology, and pluralism, is now under threat of destruction.

These attacks represent a massive escalation of systematic violence against women and their hard-won rights. Jihadist groups driven by a deeply misogynistic and patriarchal mindset are targeting, killing, kidnapping and subjecting women to sexual violence. In doing so, they are terrorising women as a means of destroying entire communities. In recent days, we have received horrific videos and reports from the region showing women’s bodies being deliberately desecrated by being thrown from houses and mutilated.

Such practices are not new. Women in the region have previously been subjected to abduction, sexual slavery and mass murder during attacks by jihadist groups. Today, these patterns are reappearing. We recognise these patterns from previous Islamic State (IS) offensives, such as the genocide and feminicide of Ezidi people in Shengal in 2014 and the 2015 massacres in Rojava, which targeted women in particular. The IS uses systematic violence against women as a military and ideological tool, deliberately destroying the achievements that women in the region have fought for over many years, as well as their political and social role. Videos currently circulating show attacks on the city of Tebqa, including the targeting and destruction of a statue of a female fighter by jihadist fighters. The statue symbolises the strong resistance of the fighters of the Women’s Defence Units (YPJ) and the People’s Defence Units (YPG), who, under the leadership of Kurdish women, drove IS out of the entire region. With their strong resistance, they liberated cities such as Kobane, which are now once again threatened and surrounded by forces with the same mentality.

Today, the people of northern and eastern Syria are experiencing a resurgence of these acts of violence and the mentality of IS in the current attacks by HTS and allied jihadist gangs. In areas occupied by armed forces and allied militias, entire prisons are reportedly being taken over and all imprisoned IS members are being released. This poses a threat not only to northern and eastern Syria and Rojava, but also to global security. Therefore, attempts to reactivate these forces pose a serious danger that extends far beyond the region.

For the past 14 years, the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, also known as Rojava revolution, has protected humanity from IS and built a democratic project that has become a model for free and equal coexistence in West Asia and beyond. It represents the Kurds’ vision of living together with other ethnic and religious groups in a pluralistic society. Women in particular have been at the forefront of building this democratic and egalitarian social system, inspiring women far beyond the region. Their leadership in promoting equality, coexistence and collective self-organisation challenges patriarchal domination directly. Through their struggle, they have made a significant contribution to demonstrating that a democratic and inclusive future for Syria is possible.

The women in the region have always emphasized: “We have defended the women’s revolution with our sacrifices. We lead our struggle on behalf of all women in the world.” The current war against women and peoples of North and East Syria is an aggression against all of us. It targets the gains and values of our struggles for women’s rights, freedom and justice – everywhere. We raise our voices for the recognition of the Democratic Autonomous Administration in North and East Syria, for peace and justice in Syria. Therefore we are calling on all women worldwide to show their solidarity with the women’s revolution in North and East Syria!

Jin Jiyan Azadî! – Women Life Freedom!