The ‘Abdullah Öcalan Academy of Social Sciences’ held a workshop at the Baqî Xido Culture and Arts Center in Kobanê under the title “The Manifesto for Peace and Democratic Society is the Guarantee of Freedom for Peoples.”
At the opening session of the workshop, PYD (Democratic Union Party) Co-Chair in the Euphrates Canton, Bozan Xelîl; Chair of the Euphrates Canton Women’s Council Macîde Hesûn; and PYD Presidential Council Member Foza Yûsif, who participated online, took the floor.
Bozan Xelîl drew attention to the resistance that has continued since the beginning of the Kurdistan Freedom Movement, stating, “Today, this resistance continues with the Manifesto for Peace and Democratic Society, which is building a new existence process.”
Recalling the importance Öcalan attaches to women, Macîde Hesûn emphasized that women will lead their societies based on the democratic nation concept.
Foza Yûsif stated in her speech, “It is impossible to understand the current process without correctly understanding Leader Öcalan’s manifesto. Women and youth can be the vanguard of this struggle.”
Egyptian academic Saher Hesen, who joined the workshop online, highlighted the importance the manifesto attaches to women and society, saying that Kurdish women have become a source of inspiration for the global women’s struggle.
Speakers in the second session included Ferhan Hec Îsa, Co-Chair of the Euphrates Canton Autonomous Administration, and Leyla Ehmed, Co-Chair of the PYD Relations Committee.
Leyla Ehmed said, “We will base ourselves on communes outside the state. Every martyr was a commune, and this will also succeed in this life.”
In the final session, Şervan Mislim, Co-President of Kobanê University, stated that Abdullah Öcalan has rewritten history with his manifesto and called for “positive integration” against capitalism and power.
Researcher Tomas Jefer said, “The democratization of the Kurds is possible through Öcalan’s ideas. Even if the Turkish state ignores this, Öcalan’s ideas are succeeding.”
The workshop concluded with discussions and evaluations.