YPJ Commander Rohilat Efrîn in Zurich: We will not abandon our struggle

Events organized in Switzerland on the occasion of March 8 International Women’s Day continue. YPJ General Command member Rohilat Efrîn attended the event organized by the Kurdish Women’s Union in Switzerland (YJK-S) in the city of Zurich.

The event, which had initially been planned to take place outdoors, was held at the Zurich Democratic Kurdish Community Center due to heavy rain. In addition to participants from Kurdistan, many Swiss women also attended the event.

A panel discussion was organized as part of the program, which began with a moment of silence. Speakers included YPJ General Command member Rohilat Efrîn and Midia Piroti, a member of the Swiss Social Democratic Party (SP) and representative of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDK-I).

Speaking here, Midia Piroti referred to the “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî” (Woman, Life, Freedom) protests that began after the killing of Jina Mahsa Amini in Iran, stating that this process marked an important turning point for the women’s struggle. She recalled that Kurds in the diaspora took to the streets in solidarity in response to the attacks on Rojava.

Rohilat Efrîn then took the floor and began her speech by commemorating the revolutionary martyrs, particularly those who lost their lives in the March 12 Qamishlo massacre. She also paid tribute to Kurdish politician Salih Muslim who recently passed away.

Emphasizing that women played a leading role in the Rojava revolution, Efrîn said that Kurdish women have become an example worldwide through their struggle. “The new government does not want to accept us women. By attacking the bodies of women guerrillas in Sheikh Maqsoud, they want to intimidate us. But we are not afraid of this. We will continue to struggle,” she underlined.

Efrîn stated that the attacks against Rojava are not only directed at the region but at the entire Kurdish people. She remarked that the resistance on the ground and the solidarity shown in all four parts of Kurdistan and in the diaspora have limited the impact of these attacks.

After the panel discussion, participants shared their questions and views. The event ended with traditional Kurdish dances and chants of “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî.”