BERÇEM CÛDÎ

Kobanê – Following the “Call for Peace and Democratic Society” by Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, the Peace and Democratic Society Group, consisting of 30 guerrillas of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), burned their weapons at a ceremony held in Şikefta Casenê, a cave located in the countryside of the city of Sulaymaniyah, on July 11, 2025.

Besê Hozat, Co-chair of the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) Executive Council, led the ceremony. “The stance of Besê Hozat is the stance of all Kurdish women,” said women of Kobanê.

‘The victory of the 52-year resistance was declared by women’

“The victory of the 52-year resistance was declared by women,” said Bêrîvan Ismayîl, Co-chair of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) in Kobanê. “Besê Hozat led the ceremony of destroying the weapons of the PKK. As the Kurdish people, we see fire as a part of our existence and identity. Laying down arms means the same thing to us. We declared the transition of a peace and stability process with the fire ignited by women. Therefore, I can say that comrade Besê represents the will of all Kurdish women. Kurdish women have waged a struggle and played a historic role in the PKK and its 52-year journey. We are inspired by these women.”

‘The struggle will continue’

Besê Hozat symbolizes the political, social and military identity of women, Bêrîvan Ismayîl emphasized. “Kurdish women have built their own political, social and military identities, and this is clearly seen in the personality of comrade Besê Hozat. Women declared the victory of the 52-year resistance and struggle and this is a valuable achievement for us, women, strengthening our belief and determination to build a free, peaceful and democratic world. We promise the revolutionary women that the struggle will continue. We will expand the women's revolution in North and East Syria and embrace all women.”

Dijle Berkel, member of the People’s Municipality in Kobanê’s Qin town, drew attention to the impact of the ideology of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan and the struggle of the PKK on the Kurdish people with the following words:

“The existence, identity and culture of the Kurdish people were ignored by everyone in the four parts of Kurdistan. The emergence of leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan) and the PKK changed everything. The Kurdish people in the grip of genocide re-existed. Now, we speak our own language and practice our own culture and identity.”

‘The stance of Besê Hozat is the stance of Kurdish women’

Dijle Berkel indicated that Abdullah Öcalan had started a revolution for women's freedom, adding:

“The more the Kurdish people were colonized, the worse the situation of women became. Therefore, leader Apo started a revolution for women’s freedom. The stance of comrade Besê shows this revolution. Comrade Besê has characterized women's struggle and dreams with her strength and determination for 52 years. Besê Hozat represented the will of women demanding freedom and peace.”

‘We have entered a new phase in history’

“As women, we have entered a new phase in history,” said Hêvîn Miho, Spokesperson of the Kongra Star Social Committee. “Following the foundation of the PKK, women began to carry out a conscious and ideological struggle by taking up arms. Thanks to the ideological struggle and armed struggle, women reveal all distorted realities in history. The women started a new phase in history by destroying weapons. Comrade Besê announced that a new process started for us. As women, we will wholeheartedly participate and embrace this process.”