Sozdar Heci, a member of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) General Command, and also a member of the North and East Syria Delegation involved in negotiations with Damascus, spoke to ANF in the second part of her interview about the attacks on Sheikh Maqsoud (Şêxmeqsûd) and Ashrafiah (Eşrefiyê) despite the April 1 Agreement, the conference on unity and a common stance among Rojava Kurds, and the legacy of struggle built under the leadership of the YPJ.
The first part of the interview can be read here.
Heci said the April 1 Agreement covering the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiah neighborhoods was violated by the Damascus government. She said: “On April 1, an agreement was signed for the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiah neighborhoods. Everyone was informed that, as a reinforcement measure, SDF forces and fighters who had come from outside both neighborhoods would withdraw from these two areas. This was implemented, and the Internal Security Forces continued their duties to protect both neighborhoods. We were even told by them, ‘You can establish up to 2,500 Internal Security Forces personnel to assist you.’ The Internal Security Forces in Aleppo prepared themselves accordingly, but this agreement was also violated.”
Heci continued by saying that the elections announced by the Damascus government did not include all segments of society and said: “Our intention was for everyone to be included in the process and for a constitution to be built collectively. However, just two days after the agreement, they announced their own constitution. In this constitution, not a single article from the agreements signed before the whole world was included. This is not democratic. It was also said that a Syrian parliament or assembly would be established in which everyone could represent themselves, but this did not happen either. What needed to be done was to hold elections on a national scale and ensure that everyone took part in them. Instead, the regions of North and East Syria and Sweida (Suwayda) were excluded, and they carried out an internal election among themselves, almost like a theatrical performance.”
HTS government carried out massacres after amnesty decision
Sozdar Heci said the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) government carried out massacres against various components in Syria after issuing an amnesty decision. She said: “During the period when the constitution and elections were announced, and the amnesty decision was issued, a massacre was carried out in Syria’s coastal regions and against the Alawite people, particularly under the pretext of so-called ‘remnants of the Baath regime.’ Those who were responsible should have been tried in courts, yet thousands of people were killed in front of their mothers and families. This has nothing to do with Islam or belief; it has no legal basis and is inhumane. Similar massacres also took place in Sweida in August. All the events we have described occurred just a few days after the agreements were signed.”
Heci said the views of the Autonomous Administration should have been considered before the constitution was announced. She added: “There is a reality of the SDF: it struggles and fights against oppression, repression, and undemocratic systems. However, such practices have no place in our philosophy of life or our way of thinking. The views of the SDF were not considered in the announced constitution, even though the side that should have been consulted was the Autonomous Administration. This structure has more than ten years of experience in self-administration and has its own constitution. All components in the region live based on this constitution and have accepted it. For this reason, this social contract was formed through discussion together with all components.”
Syrian land must belong to Syrians
Sozdar Heci said the April 1 Agreement had been violated twice and continued as follows: “One of the most important articles of the agreement was the safe and voluntary return of those who were forced to leave their lands. We raised many incidents, and all components were confronted with painful events and massacres. A bomb attack was carried out against the Christian community at the Mar Ilyas Church in Damascus. In addition, after the April 1 Agreement, members of the HTS carried out two attacks on the neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiah. The latest attack took place just a few days ago.
This situation means that a collective will is being targeted and does not ensure security. For people to be able to return to their lands, they must not once again face abduction, detention, and degrading treatment. If these incidents are repeated, return will not be possible. So far, dozens of sites have been built in areas occupied by external forces. This is an occupation. Syrian land must belong to Syrians, and the people must govern themselves. The safest return is one in which people govern themselves, defend themselves, represent themselves, and live in their own language. Our people know this very well. This is our land, and we will return. The same applies to our regions. Regardless of which city a person comes from, if their hands are not stained with the blood of the people and children, everyone can return to their home and homeland.”
Heci went on to say that every person has the right to live in their own country with their own identity and said: “Within one year, the Kurdish people in Rojava held the Rojava Unity and Common Stance Conference. This is their most natural right, and they must be able to represent themselves. As a Kurd, and especially as a Kurdish woman, I want to represent myself authentically and live on my own land in my own language. Organizing such a conference and demanding recognition of one’s identity is everyone’s right; it is also our right. This does not mean racism, because we oppose that as well. The existence of the Kurdish people within a democratic system in which everyone represents themselves will add great strength to all of Syria. This is our belief. If Kurds become free citizens with an identity, they will offer great contributions to all of Syria. Our demand is to live together in the same country. We live intertwined with all segments of society everywhere. Syria is a mosaic of peoples, and every people has the right to represent itself.”
Women have created a great legacy of resistance and struggle
Sozdar Heci stated that women have built a powerful legacy of struggle and resistance in North and East Syria, concluding her remarks with the following words and said: “Through organization and education across the military, political, and social spheres, women have created a legacy of resistance. The struggle and resistance waged by Kurdish women against the reactionary ideology of ISIS and terrorist groups became an example for the entire world. This year, women led the revolutionary people’s war, and this was clearly seen at the Tishrin Dam. In the war, the YPJ became the defenders of their people’s land, culture, and values. They did not hesitate for a single moment.
There are dozens of our comrades who fought in this resistance and in Manbij and became examples. This year, many meetings and evaluations were held by the YPJ Council based on organization, education, and development. The YPJ led the struggle against ISIS and continues today to lead all women. Women from different nations who believe in freedom and their own existence took their place within the ranks of the YPJ. Society and women defended themselves in the most appropriate way through communal, free, and socialist organization.
Building a system takes time, and the region goes through experience in this process. The best experience to emerge is the one we have lived for twelve years in North and East Syria. Our call to all women is to organize strongly, to take part in the work of organizing free and democratic communes, and in the construction of their countries. If we organize and grow stronger, we can prevent ongoing attacks and protect our society. For this reason, all young women and women of the world should know that if we organize and protect one another, we can stand against anything. Our expectation for the new year is that it will be a year of freedom and that everyone will take their place in the new Syria.”