Democratic Unity Initiative Co-Spokesperson Gülcan Kaçmaz Sayyiğit shared her assessment of the current situation, stressing that national unity holds a critical place in the face of ongoing attacks and that this struggle must be intensified. She said the geography of Kurdistan has for many years been divided by the same mindset, adding that Kurds living in each part have been systematically cut off from their roots.
Sayyiğit noted that a significant historical accumulation around national unity has developed over time, yet said that despite this legacy, a strong and sustainable spirit of national unity has still not been put into practice today. She said: “Despite all these efforts, we must ask whether we have been able to build a form of national unity capable of shaking the capitalist system. At this point, we have fallen short.”
The awareness that has emerged is not a coincidence
Gülcan Kaçmaz Sayyiğit said the period following the attacks on Rojava has revealed a powerful spirit of national unity, adding that they are witnessing one of its most intense phases. She added: “As the Democratic Unity Initiative, we know that this is not a coincidence, and we assess it as such. Because when action is taken with the spirit of national unity, we are aware of how the Kurdish people have achieved their gains. The most concrete and closest example of this is Kobanê. During the Kobanê process, Kurds set aside the political parties they were affiliated with and their differing views, and united around a single point. That unity became Kurdish national unity, and it brought Kurdish gains with it. The Kobanê Revolution was embraced in this way and, as a result, achieved very significant success. At the same time, a model emerged that set an example for the entire world.”
National unity awareness has re-emerged with Rojava
Sayyiğit said the same awareness has resurfaced among the people thanks to Rojava, stressing that this consciousness has spread far beyond Kurdistan itself. She continued: “At this moment, the same awareness has developed not only across the four parts of Kurdistan, but also among Kurds living in the diaspora and in all corners of the world,” and noted that people have taken to the streets in many places. She raised a series of questions about the conditions under which this awareness comes to the fore. Sayyiğit asked: “Does an attack on Kurdish rights have to take place for the spirit of national unity to emerge? Does a threat against Kurdistan or against Kurdish gains trigger this awareness?” She said this consciousness often appears during moments of attack or threat but emphasized that the opposite approach is essential. Sayyiğit added: “When we ourselves bring the spirit of national unity to life, when we ground it and give it real substance, it becomes possible to minimize such attacks. This perspective is extremely valuable.”
We must raise our voices against dirty policies
Gülcan Kaçmaz Sayyiğit said efforts toward national unity must not remain temporary but should be sustained over time, stressing that the initiative approaches unity not as a project of seizing power but as a process of socialization. She noted that not only the Kurdish people but also friends of the Kurds have taken to the streets in defense of a democratic, ecological, and women’s libertarian paradigm, and continued as follows: “The louder we raise our voices and the stronger the connections we build, the more effectively we can undermine the dirty bargains and war policies being carried out there. Today, filthy policies are being pursued against Kurds in Rojava and Rojhilat (Eastern Kurdistan). In Rojhilat, there is a search for a new path against the Iranian regime, along with a strong struggle developing in that direction. After years of anti-democratic practices, economic crises, and overlapping crises, the people are now openly rising in resistance.”
The attacks are a direct intervention in the Kurdish people’s way of life
Sayyiğit said a new phase has begun in Turkey following Abdullah Öcalan’s Call for Peace and a Democratic Society on 27 February, noting that this development must be considered together with regional dynamics. She also pointed to an ongoing process in Rojava advancing based on democratic integration.
Sayyiğit said these developments must be viewed as interconnected and added: “When all these elements are brought together, it becomes clear that the dominant mindset is carrying out a direct intervention against the Kurdish people’s way of life and against the democratic and peaceful resolution of the Kurdish question. Despite this, the struggle will continue. At the end of the day, we will continue to speak out everywhere and raise our voices by exercising our democratic rights. The final word will always be spoken by the resisting Kurdish people and the peoples of Kurdistan.”
Al-Jolani’s statements are one-sided
Sayyiğit said recent information circulating in the public sphere regarding a ceasefire reflects a one-sided narrative, adding that how the process will unfold is expected to become clearer in the coming days. She said: “For us, the essential principle is the resolution of problems through democratic and peaceful methods, through dialogue and negotiation. This is the most correct and healthiest path for the peoples.”
Sayyiğit also underlined that the struggle against the mindset of ISIS remains of vital importance, saying its misogynistic and destructive character has been repeatedly demonstrated through concrete examples. She said a recently released video showed that a statue of a woman resisting this dark mindset had been targeted and destroyed. She added: “We are confronting such a mentality, and a state logic that provides support to it.”
Everyone must clearly choose their side
Gülcan Kaçmaz Sayyiğit said the current picture clearly reveals two opposing lines of struggle: “On one side, there is a line of struggle that defends women’s freedom and a paradigm in which peoples can live together in equality. On the other hand, there is a dark mentality that brutally kills people, targets women’s bodies, and relies on inhumane methods. At this point, everyone must clearly determine where they stand.”
One of the pillars of the struggle is building national unity
Sayyiğit pointed out that this situation is unacceptable for the Kurdish people, and especially for Kurdish women, stressing that the struggle will continue with determination. She concluded: “Just as we fought against this mentality in the past, and just as we built a democratic, ecological, and women’s libertarian paradigm, we will continue on our path in the coming period with the same determination and the same principles of struggle.” She added that one of the strongest pillars of this struggle is the construction of Kurdish national unity.