Mamihan Helen Zaidan

VAN – The war in the Middle East escalated after the Israeli and US attack on Iran, and Iran's retaliatory response against Israel and US bases in the region, taking on different dimensions following the targeting of nuclear facilities in Iran.

Diba Kaskin, secretary of the Democratic Unity Initiative, says that "both sides are unjust," affirming that the warring parties do not adhere to the rules of war. "There are many countries standing behind Iran behind the scenes, including Russia, China, and Turkey, while a statement from 12 countries criticized Iran, but did not address the United States and Israel, which are also essential parties to the war."

She affirmed that all wars have devastating effects, and this war also targets the Kurds. "The Kurds are stuck in the middle of this war, and they are targeted in all circumstances. This war concerns them directly. Due to the recent Iranian attacks, 6 Peshmerga were killed, and massacres were committed against the Kurds of Rojava. However, on the other hand, a spirit of national unity emerged, and the Kurds formed an alliance. If this alliance continues in East Kurdistan, we can emerge from this war without damage. The winner in this war is the one who achieves unity, and it is expected that the Kurds will achieve their unity and respond to the attacks. This is what happened in Rojava."

She explained that the Kurds have historically always been at the center of wars. "The Kurds can be a wall in this war and lead the peoples of the Middle East. The peoples of the region do not want war, but US forces come and kill people, and the Iranian regime has also killed its people for years. Therefore, peoples must unite against capitalist systems and attempts at extermination."

She noted that for over a month, the United States has been attacking Iran. "It seems this war will be prolonged. Even if it stops, the Iranian regime will emerge declaring victory and will again practice injustice against its people. This is a reality that must be seen. Despite the war, Iran continues to kill Kurdish youth. We are living through a phase where those who harm peoples are fighting each other, and both sides inflict harm on these peoples."

Diba Kaskin also recalled the Jin Jiyan Azadî uprising that erupted in Iran after the killing of Jina Amini by the "morality police," saying: "The protesters who took to the streets demanded change, but that has not been achieved. This regime continues to practice repression against its people. Therefore, a revolution must take place in minds." She explained that "the whole world says it is annoyed with the Iranian regime, but many countries deal with it according to their own interests. We do not want death; we want the demands of peoples for freedom and democracy to be accepted. This will be achieved under the leadership of women."

"The Kurds Struggle for the Freedom of All Peoples"

She pointed out that the Kurds in the Middle East "struggle first for their existence, then for the existence and freedom of all peoples," and that "as a Kurdish people, we have not accepted the policies of these authorities, neither for ourselves nor for others, and we will not be a tool for injustice, tyranny, and power."

She affirmed that the Kurds "seek to build a better world based on humanity," and "struggle for that," stressing the necessity of achieving national unity for the Kurds in the four parts of Kurdistan, in the Middle East, and in the world. "This unity is as necessary as water and bread. The demand of all Kurds is to achieve unity. We have lived 100 years of division in the Middle East, and we hope to spend the next 100 years with our unity and with a dignified life."