Kurdish women speaking about the increasingly intensifying war policies in the Middle East drew attention to the importance of both women’s organization and unity in the face of these policies. Calling on the Kurdish people to unite in order to suffer the least harm from war policies, the women underlined that the organized struggle of women should take the lead in building this unity.
Banu Ay, Kayapınar provincial co-chair of the Freedom Party (PIA), stated that the issue of Kurdish unity has been an important matter that has remained unresolved for many years, and said that despite the efforts carried out from the past to the present, the desired level of unity has not yet been achieved. Ay noted that the peace process and women’s platforms play an important role in bringing this goal closer and stressed that all political parties should take responsibility in the current process.
Ay stated that the war environment in the region has made the need for unity even more visible and said that the Kurdish people should act together. Continuing her remarks, Ay said: “The issue of unity has become more important and more valuable in this ongoing war. If we do not achieve unity, this war will also harm us. Personally, I do not approve of any war. The United States starts these wars only to strengthen its own dominance in the region and is able to sacrifice all peoples for its own interests. At this point, the Kurdish people must think about their own interests and their future. In this process, the greatest role falls to us women. No matter what happens, each of us must increase these efforts even if we are in different places. People now want peace; no one wants to lose their children or suffer pain. In order to secure this peace, we must act with unity and responsibility and take on our share of the burden.”
Women’s identity and will are being targeted
Songül Korkmaz, an activist from the Democratic Unity Initiative, said that the developments taking place in the region once again demonstrate the importance of unity and organization for the Kurdish people, emphasizing that women in particular should take an active role in this process. Korkmaz stated that war policies most directly target the identity and will of women and stressed the need for women to engage in a common struggle.
Songül Korkmaz said: “Today, wherever a war takes place, the first things targeted are women’s identity and will. We saw this very clearly during the war in Rojava. In this process, we witnessed both the Kurdish people’s longing for unity and the strong struggle of women. Women need to unite around their identities. In the face of the war environment that is reigniting across the Middle East, organized struggle is extremely important today.”
What will protect us against war is organization and unity
Korkmaz added: “As women, we should not make distinctions based on race, language or religion in this struggle. For a free life, we must come together around our identity as women and work collectively, and then as the Kurdish people we must expand our struggle. What will protect us in the midst of this war today is organization and unity. For this reason, we must not step back from the struggle. Women should lead the peace process by determining the direction of unity in politics. As women from Northern Kurdistan (Bakur), we particularly emphasize that we always stand alongside women in other regions and that we will continue to uphold this struggle.”
Many forces seek to prevent unity
Feride Akturan, a linguist and member of the Kurdish Women’s Unity Platform, said that language and culture play a decisive role in protecting and strengthening the unity of the Kurdish people, noting that women have come together to raise awareness on this issue. Akturan stated that Kurdish society has been divided for many years through various policies and said that bans imposed particularly on language and culture aim to weaken social unity. Akturan said: “The unity of the Kurdish people is very important and valuable. That is why we women have come together today to once again draw attention to its importance.
For a hundred years we have been distanced from one another and divided. In every sphere our language and culture were attempted to be banned. We saw this very concretely, especially in Northern Kurdistan. They first tried to eliminate this unity by attacking our lives and our language.”
Common struggle is essential to protect ourselves
Akturan stressed that protecting the language is a fundamental element for identity and social unity and said that war policies cause great harm to peoples. Akturan said: “By protecting our identity together with our language, we can defend our unity. In the face of these wars, our struggle and our strength will grow together with unity. These wars created by nation-states cause great harm to peoples. If we, the Kurdish people, become united and stand strong like other peoples, we will not be harmed in this war. Otherwise, we will have no chance against these policies. For this reason, we must carry out a strong process of building unity and engage in a common struggle to protect ourselves.”
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