NORŞÎN ABDÎ

Kobanê- In April 2025, an agreement was signed between the Council of Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafiyeh neighborhoods in Aleppo and Syria’s interim government led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The agreement included prisoner exchanges. However, the second phase of the prisoner exchange scheduled for May 28, 2025 was postponed after the Syrian army refused to release the Women’s Defense Units (YPJ) prisoners

Women of Kobanê think that not releasing the YPJ prisoners is an attack on the identity and will of women in North and East Syria.

‘Their attitude is a direct attack on women’

Nijmet İbrahim, one women in Kobanê, thinks that not releasing the captured YPJ fighters is a direct attack on the struggle, identity and revolution of women.

“As women, we have made great sacrifices,” she said, stressing that the YPJ is the defense units of women. “We have achieved many successes thanks to the revolution led by women and women’s struggle. The YPJ will continue to represent women, who are subjected to violence and whose rights are taken away.”

Syria needs peace and security, Nijmet İbrahim emphasized, demanding the immediate release of the captured YPJ fighters.

‘The YPJ fights for women’

“The YPJ fights for women,” emphasized Almaz Hasso, a displaced woman of Afrin living in Kobanê. “The will and vision of the Women’s Defense Units scare them because these units fight to defend women and women’s rights. As women, we have a safe life today thanks to the YPJ. We must stand with them and demand their immediate release.”

‘The women’s revolution is led by the YPJ’

Almaz Hasso criticized the stance of Syria’s interim government marginalizing women’s role in society and confining women to their homes. “The YPJ is the only force that fights against this mindset to liberate women. The interim government refuses to release women fighters because the women’s revolution in North and East Syria is led by the YPJ. As the women of North and East Syria, we see any attack on the YPJ fighters as a threat against our revolution and will. The YPJ represents us, embodying our revolution and our existence.”