RONÎDA HACÎ

Hasakah- Following the 13-year resistance in Syria, the oppressive system of the Baathist regime collapsed on December 8, 2024 and an interim government was formed by the jihadist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The decisions taken by HTS show that the country could move towards a fundamentalist Islamist system. Due to the silence of the interim government, the attacks on North and East Syria continue, killing and displacing civilians.

“We oppose monism in Syria,” said Ebîr Esaf, member of the Syrian Women’s Council. “Following the fall of the Assad regime, we entered a new phase and the people of Syria face a new threat. During the rule of the Assad regime, a nationalist system was implemented but today a fundamentalist Islamist system is aimed to be built in Syria. Both systems aim to oppress people.”

‘A national congress is needed’

Ebîr Esaf thinks that a national congress with the participation of all identities is needed to “build a life with dignity based on gender equality and democracy in Syria. A revolution led by women took place in Syria to build a democratic and equal life with dignity. After 13-year resistance, the nationalist regime collapsed. In order to build a democratic Syria, a national congress with the participation of all identities must be organized.”

Women’s role in building the new Syria

Ebîr Esaf believes that women will play a key role in building the new Syria. “The rights, history and culture of all people living in Syria must be protected. All identities must be recognized. In Syria, women are deprived of their rights and subjected to all forms of violence. Solving the problems faced by women is a must to build a democratic Syria.”

‘The interim government has not taken a stance against the attacks’

Ebîr Esaf also criticized the silence of the interim government led by HTS against the ongoing attacks in Syria. “Following the formation of the interim government, the Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions attacked Shahba and Manbij. They have intensified their attacks on the Tishreen Dam. However, the interim government has not taken a stance against the attacks. The government remains silent against the attacks because it is in contact with the Turkish state although North and East Syria is also a region in Syria.”

Call on Syrian women

Ebîr Esaf called on Syrian women to support the resistance on the Tishreen Dam and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). “As women, we must unite to build a free life with dignity. Today, people from many regions of Syria call on the SDF to protect them. In order to defend ourselves and our regions, we must first defend the Tishreen Dam. The SDF protects us, our future.”