The Free Women’s Movement (Tevgera Jinen Azad – TJA), the Democratic Regions Party (DBP), the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), and the Democratic Unity Initiative released written statements to celebrate 1 November, World Kobanê Day.
The Democratic Regions Party (DBP) said: “The magical resistance that began in 2014 against the darkness of ISIS gangs continues to influence the political and social context of the Middle East, despite its unique characteristics. Kobanê has become a source of strength and faith for the peoples of the world in the journey toward the struggle for self-governance, in the development of the free women’s paradigm, and in the building of a new democratic life. The resistance, based on Mr. Öcalan’s Democratic Society Manifesto, became the symbol of democratic modernity’s victory over capitalist modernity. With this victory, a new model of life was opened, not only for the Kurdish people but for all oppressed peoples.”
The DBP added: “Contrary to the nation-state system, which targets the values of freedom and democracy, the Middle East today faces the call of a new era for democratic systems. The collapse of the Baath Regime and the achievements of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria are the most vivid examples of this reality. Instead of policies that divide the values of peoples like borders, the hope for a democratic transition is growing stronger. The process that began with the Kobanê resistance and entered a new phase with the Rojava Revolution is now, step by step, building a new future for the peoples of the Middle East. In this future, freedom, equality, and justice will prevail for everyone regardless of faith, culture, identity, or differences.”
The DBP continued: “Because the ideology that ‘dreamed of Kobanê’s fall’ has for years tried to suffocate both Kobanê’s will and the revolution’s gains through lawsuits, revenge trials, politics of threats, and dirty plots. In the face of this reality, protecting Kobanê must take its place on the world agenda as a moral and political responsibility. This is possible only through the principles of the third path and the development of democratic politics.
On this occasion, once again we salute the resistance of the century and remember with gratitude and respect the sacrifices that marked history.”
The Free Women’s Movement (Tevgera Jinen Azad – TJA) said in its statement that “in the 21st century, ISIS was sent to the geography of Kurdistan as an instrument of war not only against the people of Rojava but against all the peoples of the world—targeting women’s values, nature’s values, and cultural values. Through this organization, femicide, cultural genocide, and ecocide were intended to be carried out as a whole. But they were destroyed through a social resistance led by women, the likes of which history had never seen before.”
The TJA added: “This resistance also turned into an unbreakable self-defense through which society was rebuilt on democratic, women’s-liberationist, and ecological values. In the face of this war against the peoples and women of the world, women-led social defense and the Jin Jiyan Azadî (Women, Life, Freedom) revolution showed that freedom for peoples is possible through resistance and the building of a democratic society. Both the liberation of Kobanê and the Jin Jiyan Azadî revolution, on this basis, were gifted to all women and peoples of the world and also placed upon them a responsibility for women’s freedom.
Today, inspired by the liberation of Kobanê and the reconstruction of Rojava through women’s values, we, as women, fulfill our historical responsibility with our own strength, will, and autonomous organization, and we continue to build democratic society moment by moment.”
The Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) wrote: “We salute, on its 11th anniversary, the Kobanê victory, humanity’s triumph led by women against the darkness of ISIS in the city of Kobanê in North and East Syria.”
The DEM Party added: “Eleven years ago, with the awareness that ‘the fall of Kobanê means the fall of all Kurdistan,’ a resistance was organized in Kobanê, and one of the most magnificent resistances in human history took place against the monist, sectarian, and male-dominated mindset. This resistance continues to shine a light for the whole world through the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, where peoples live together in a shared life and which has become a model for the world. The Kobanê resistance, developed under the leadership of women’s struggle, paved the way for the advancement of the Peace and Democratic Society Process, which today represents the hope for an equal and free life.”
The DEM Party continued: “In this historical period, the grave social consequences of wars for division centered in the Middle East once again reveal how vital Mr. Abdullah Öcalan’s call for Peace and a Democratic Society is. The nationalism and sectarian conflicts fueled by global powers through nation-states in Syria, and the deepening social polarization, have shown that the social system embodied in Rojava is the only alternative.
With the spirit of Mr. Abdullah Öcalan’s paradigm of Peace and Democratic Society, we salute the Kobanê Revolution, in which peoples wrote their own destiny with faith and solidarity, and we reaffirm our determination to develop and defend this revolutionary understanding. May November 1, World Kobanê Day, be celebrated by the Kurdish people and all the peoples of the world.”
The Democratic Unity Initiative said: “With its unique struggle, Kobanê today is a symbol of human values, a dignified life, and brotherhood among peoples. The spark of liberation was lit there with the slogan ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadî’ and still echoes throughout the world. For these reasons, November 1 was declared Kobanê Day by the peoples of the world, intellectuals, revolutionaries, civil society organizations, and Nobel laureates.”
The Democratic Unity Initiative called “on the Syrian interim government to ensure that no one—including Kurds, Druze, Arabs, Alawites, and Christians—is excluded from the new Syrian system. In this context, all policies of assimilation and disintegration must be abandoned, and steps must be taken toward democratic integration. For only through a peaceful and democratic approach can a better future be achieved in Syria and throughout the Middle East. With these feelings and thoughts, we once again respectfully salute the spirit of freedom that united around Kobanê against ISIS’s brutal attacks eleven years ago and celebrate November 1, World Kobanê Day.”