Seminar in Shengal to mark Abdullah Öcalan’s birthday

The Yazidi Women’s Freedom Movement (Tevgera Azadiya Jinên Êzidî-TAJÊ) organized a seminar on the occasion of the birthday of Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan, which is to be celebrated on 4 April.

The seminar took place in the village of Hesewik in the Arab region between Shengal and the Rojava border.

The seminar, attended by many Arab women, started with a minute’s silence for the martyrs.

Many people took the floor at the seminar chaired by Rıham Hesen, co-chair of the Shengal Board of Directors.

Rıham Hesen said: “We consider 4 April, the birthday of Leader Apo [Abdullah Öcalan], as the birthday of the idea that calls for the unity of peoples, women’s freedom and gender equality.”

Rıham Hesen pointed out that the Freedom Movement started with six people and added: “The movement that started with six people reached millions following Leader Apo’s thoughts and philosophy. Leader Apo said, ‘If we are united, we will win even if the whole world fights against us, but if we are not united, we cannot win even if the whole world is with us.’”

Shengal Autonomous Assembly co-chair Xezal Reşo said: “We learned how to claim and protect our rights from Leader Apo. Especially after the last edict, we rebuilt ourselves with the thoughts and ideas of Leader Apo. We will never forget those who betrayed us. And we will never forget the people who heard our call and came to help our people. Leader Apo’s thoughts made the unity of the people stronger in Shengal. We gathered here thanks to Leader Apo’s idea. We will resist until the end and raise the struggle for the physical freedom of Leader Apo.”

Resho added: “The Turkish state wants to involve Iraq in their dirty game. That’s why today Iraq wants to build a wall between us and separate us with wire fences. This is a dirty plan. Iraq cannot do this alone. We know that Turkey is involved in this.”