Three years after the violent death of Kurdish woman Jina Mahsa Amini at the hands of Iranian security forces, the Kurdish Women’s Movement in Europe (TJK-E) recalls the explosive social power of the slogan “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî” [Woman, Life, Freedom] and calls for international solidarity with the ongoing struggle in Iran.
In a statement released on the anniversary of Jina Mahsa Amini’s arrest, the TJK-E honored the victims of the uprising and emphasized the ongoing significance of the movement: “Democratic change and a free life require a women’s revolution.”
Amini, who was arrested by the morality police in Tehran on September 13, 2022, for allegedly violating Islamic dress codes and died three days later as a result of violence suffered in custody, has become a symbol of social change that extends far beyond Iran’s borders.
The TJK-E statement on Monday includes the following:
“Once again Jin Jiyan Azadî!
On its third anniversary, we salute the Jin Jîyan Azadî uprising and affirm that the path to democratic change and a free life lies through the women’s revolution. We respectfully commemorate all the martyrs, especially Jîna Emînî, who rose up for freedom at the cost of their lives, chanting Jin Jîyan Azadî. We call for solidarity and a common struggle to crown the women-led uprising of the people of Eastern Kurdistan and Iran, alongside freedom.
Exactly three years have passed since the Jin Jîyan Azadî uprising, sparked by the murder of Jina Emînî by state forces. On September 16, 2022, the young Kurdish woman Jîna Emînî was tortured and murdered for not covering her head according to state-established regulations. Her death sparked widespread anger among women and people throughout Iran, especially in Eastern Kurdistan, and quickly fuelled a nationwide uprising. Led by women, the people remained in the streets for weeks, fearlessly organising a resistance for a free life. This resistance resonated throughout the world and swiftly became a universal movement after adopting Jin Jîyan Azadî as its motto – the magical formula that Leader Apo had developed to represent the essence of women’s freedom. The passion for a free life and social revolution led by women, summarised in the slogan Jin Jîyan Azadî, spread throughout the world, transcending all barriers of oceans and mountains.
Today, the Jin Jîyan Azadî uprising is far from over. Women, especially young women, continue to struggle against all forms of oppression and cruelty for a free life, even in the face of relentless violence and injustice. The Iranian regime is attempting to break this resistance through policies of torture, arrest, and execution. Thousands of people are currently being imprisoned and executed for their participation, with dozens of resistance fighters under the threat of capital punishment. Werîşe Muradî, Pexşan Yazidi, and Sharîfa Muhammedî, who have become symbols of the women’s revolution from Eastern Kurdistan to Iran, are also facing imminent execution. In this way, the Iranian regime aims to break women’s courage, hope, and strength.
Therefore, on the third anniversary of the Jin Jiyan Azadî uprising, standing against capital punishment is of crucial importance. As TJK-E, we support the “No to the Death Penalty, Yes to Free Life” movement, which was established last year with the purpose of abolishing the death penalty in Iran. We call on all women’s, democratic society, and human rights organisations to support our campaign and stand in solidarity to defend the lives of the pioneers of the Jin Jiyan Azadî resistance.
We are living in a time when wars and violence are escalating faster than ever. The Middle East, a region plagued by war, has observed the women-led Rojava revolution become a fundamental source of inspiration for the entire world. However, as demonstrated by recent events such as the handing over of power to the Taliban in Afghanistan and the transformation of terrorist Jolani into Syrian “President Sharaa” through wearing a tie, misogyny is being used against the women’s revolution. Furthermore, as was the case with Israel’s recent attacks on Iran, we are being forced to choose between regimes that are inherently misogynist, fascist, and autocratic. As women, we want the world to know that we have no choice but to achieve a truly free and democratic life. And only by working together as a community can we create this possibility. Only through the construction of a democratic society led by women can life be liberated.
In this regard, on the third anniversary of the Jin Jiyan Azadî uprising, we urge every community living within Iran’s borders, from Kurds to Balochis, Persians to Arabs, Azeris to Lurs, to support the women-led fight for freedom and democracy. Let us strengthen our resistance by standing together in solidarity wherever we are, amplifying the voices of revolutionary women like Werîşe, Pexşan, and Şerife who are resisting in Iranian prisons. With the slogan “once again, Jin Jiyan Azadî,” we declare that the resistance is not over, and will not be over; let us all raise the struggle together until we liberate life!”