The Democratic Autonomous Administration of the Euphrates Canton made a statement at the Kobanê War Museum on the 10th anniversary of ISIS’ attacks on Kobanê. The statement was read in Kurdish by Aras Hiso, a faculty member at Kobanê University, and in Arabic by student Firyaz Remo.
The statement recalled that the ISIS onslaught, which began on September 15, 2014, was directed at Kobanê following ISIS’ occupation of major cities such as Raqqa and Mosul. It noted that the aim of the attacks was to eliminate the existence of the Kurdish people and the gains of the July 19 Revolution.
Saluting the resistance of the people of Kobanê, the statement said, “Kobanê was different from other cities attacked by ISIS. The children of the city resisted with great determination and a sense of freedom, defending not only their own land but all of humanity against terrorism.”
The statement recalled that ISIS was defeated by the historic 134-day resistance of the people of Kobanê, led by the YPG and YPJ: “Kobanê became the first city where the terrorist organization was defeated. This marked the beginning of the end for ISIS militarily. The unique resistance in the streets of Kobanê succeeded despite the significant support provided to ISIS. The occupying Turkish state was among these supporters, opening its borders to ISIS, turning a blind eye and allowing terrorists to pass into Syria and Iraq, causing the destruction of cities and the fragmentation of society. However, all these plans were thwarted.”
The statement emphasized that Kobanê became a symbol of the fight against ISIS and the resistance created worldwide solidarity, with November 1 being declared “World Kobanê Day.”
The statement continued:
We also remember the tremendous support shown by the Kurdish people in Northern Kurdistan during the Kobanê resistance. Their struggle played a fundamental and decisive role in achieving the victory in Kobanê.
Attacks on the July 19 Revolution and the democratic project in North and East Syria continue today. The enemies of freedom are trying to achieve what ISIS failed to do. Attacks on the region and the democratic project are being carried out by different groups bearing the same mindset.
The fight against ISIS is not over yet. They still have sleeper cells in many places, and they emerge from time to time. They are taking advantage of the instability in Syria. Therefore, the fight against terrorism must continue until the threat is completely eliminated. We will continue our struggle with the spirit and determination of the resistance in Kobanê until we establish freedom and democracy and repel all attacks on the gains of the revolution.
We appeal to humanity and the entire world: stand with the people of North and East Syria and the Autonomous Administration project, which is the only hope for building a new Syria. The Autonomous Administration has proven to be the right model for the future of the Syrian people. Any support given to it is support for Syria’s stability and bright future. Finally, we honor the freedom fighters who wrote heroic epics with their blood and pledge to follow in the footsteps of our martyrs until freedom is achieved.”