NORŞÎN ABDİ

Kobanê – ISIS, emerged with the support of regional and international powers, committed crimes against humanity in North and East Syria. Nine years ago, a great resistance led by women and YPJ fighters took place in Kobanê against ISIS. The liberation of the city showed that the people would not give up their freedom and would not accept slavery. During the resistance in Kobanê in 2014, people took to the streets all around the world to support the resistance. Since 2014, the International Day of Solidarity with Kobanî has been celebrated on November 1.

‘The resistance in Kobanê turned into a global solidarity’

In an interview with NuJINHA, Helen Hajim, Co-chair of the Social Affairs and Labor Authority in Kobanê, commented on the role of women in the resistance of Kobanê. “In a small city, known as the castle of determination and resistance, young Kurdish women and men exhibited a great resistance. The victory was won by paying a heavy price. ISIS was defeated as a result of a great resistance in a small city like Kobanê. The strength and will of our fighters and people are stronger than ISIS. The resistance in Kobanê turned into a global solidarity,” she said.

 ‘Fighters all around the world joined the resistance’

In her speech, Helen Hajim emphasized that the main target of ISIS was the women's revolution and the system based on democracy in North and East Syria. “The Turkish state supported ISIS to destroy the revolution and system. The Turkish state aimed to occupy Kobanê and then other parts of North and East Syria. The resistance started by free women turned into an international resistance; fighters all around the world joined the resistance. Now, there are dozens of books and articles telling the resistance in Kobanê.”

‘Arîn Mîrkan became the symbol of courage’

Helen Hajim also talked about Arîn Mîrkan, a commander in the YPJ who sacrificed herself fighting against ISIS in Kobanê on October 5, 2014. “She became the symbol of courage and resistance of the Kurdish women.” There is statue remembering Arîn Mîrkan in Kobanê. “The statue was built in over three months. The statue symbolizes the resistance in Kobanê, the strong will of women fighters, mothers, who stood with their children in the resistance and the Kurdish women. This statue is very important for the people of Kobanê and women as it represents the identity of the Kurdish women who fought ISIS.”

 Helen Hajim pointed out that the statue represents hundreds of women fighters, such as Arîn, Revan, Beritan, and Avesta. “The statue represents all resisting Kurdish women and one of them was Arîn Mirkan, who sacrificed herself to end the darkness of ISIS. Now, Kobanê is under attack again. Those who supported the resistance in Kobanê should stand with the people of Kobanê again. The people, who defeated ISIS, are subjected to the ongoing Turkish attacks today.