On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Kongra Star Coordination emphasized that what women face — killings, abductions, and being sold — is a disgrace to the world and to humanity as a whole. They called on women to unite to confront these policies and to build a democratic society that puts an end to systematic violence.
Every year, on November 25, the world celebrates the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, during which women reaffirm their struggle against all forms of violence and discrimination, and renew the call to promote equality and build a more just and fair society.
On this occasion, Kongra Star Coordination issued a statement on Tuesday, saying: “Today we remember the courageous sisters who left us a legacy of resistance and sacrifice in their struggle against the authorities. They chose this day as a day of struggle against violence. Drawing inspiration from the history of women fighters, we recall all our heroes and leaders, such as Rosa Luxemburg, Sakine Cansız, Şilan Kobani, Susen Berhat, Yusra, Leman, Arin Maku, Klistan Tara, Hero Bahaddin, and thousands of other female fighters whose names we may not mention, and we pledge to exert further efforts to champion their cause.”
The statement continued: “As Kongra Star, we have followed and grown on the legacy of those who sacrificed for freedom. We have preserved their struggle and resistance. Today, we fight an unparalleled battle against extremist jihadist ideology with all our political, social, and economic strength.”
Kongra Star, pointed out that the mentality prevailing in the 21st century has launched many attacks on society using the image of women as a tool: “We see this attack directly — physically, psychologically, and politically — from the cases of Rojin Kapayish, Klistan Doku, Narin Kuran, to Ashna Khasro; from Jina Amini to the women of the Syrian coast, and even the women of Sweida.”
The statement noted: “Hundreds of women have been killed this year alone. As women gain strength and organize, systematic attacks have increased. In Syria, the ruling system deliberately targets women, leaving them without will. This is evident in laws issued against women’s will, in the absence of women’s roles in politics and other areas of life, and in the pressures they face regarding their movement and attire. Today in Syria, a mentality that surpasses medieval thinking prevails. On one side, our independent governing system, through struggle and with all its power, seeks to liberate women; on the other side, a system run by jihadists seeks to further subjugate women and isolate them from society.”
The statement pointed out that:“In recent years, authorities have focused on religious fanaticism and gender discrimination to deepen societal gender bias, and extremist Islamic elements have played a prominent role in this. In Afghanistan, the Taliban; in Syria, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham — under such movements, women’s will is completely crushed, leaving them without identity or autonomy. Women are terrorized to remain in their homes. If women are not organized, they are forced to submit to these laws. In the case of women in Sweida and the Syrian coast, we clearly witnessed what unorganized women face. As women, we must understand that no state supports women’s freedom; no state wants women to have autonomy, as was evident in these areas, especially this year.”
The statement added: “What women in Sweida endured — violations, and the killing, abduction, and selling of women on the Syrian coast — represents a stain on the world and humanity. Even in the face of these crimes, women who reject such acts must express their anger and confront them decisively. Silence is also a disgrace. Channeling our energy into work and struggle will lead to tangible and real results.”
In conclusion, Kongra Star Coordination affirmed its belief that from now on, women in North and East Syria, together with all Syrian women, will strengthen their organization and demonstrate a firmer stance against the anti-women system: “As women’s organizations, we represent the strongest and most significant response to the authorities. On this day, we unite as women’s organizations to declare a decisive position against the gender-biased system. As Syrian women, we know that our unity is the path to the ultimate solution. Let us unite our forces to build a unified democratic society for a democratic Middle East and to put an end to systematic violence.”