ROCHELLE JUNIOR

As-Suwayda — In a scene that reflects profound humanitarian awareness and a shared destiny, women of Suwayda announced their full solidarity with Kurdish women, affirming that Syrian pain is one, regardless of geography or ethnicity.

This solidarity does not stem merely from sympathy, but from a shared experience of oppression, violations, and international abandonment, where women and children always pay the heaviest price in wars and conflicts.

A Stance Rooted in the Same Experience of Pain

Activist Sham Naffa stated that what Kurds are facing today “is exactly what Suwayda previously experienced in terms of displacement, killing, and violations,” considering that Syria is witnessing “a second ethnic genocide and a scenario of displacement and ethnic cleansing.” She stressed that solidarity with the Kurds is not a fleeting condemnation, but a position rooted in the same experience of pain.

She added, “We will not be mere witnesses to the massacre, because we have lived this pain and know it well. What is happening today in areas controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces—killings and grave violations against women and children—is humanly and internationally unacceptable, yet it is met with painful global silence.”

She also referred to the incident of the mutilation of the body of a Kurdish female fighter, considering that “mutilating a corpse is an internationally condemned crime, regardless of the alleged guilt,” questioning the absence of official condemnation and Syrian public awareness.

She emphasized that the language of humanity and love must rise above sectarian discourse, stating: “Kurds are our brothers in this homeland and on this land, whether one accepts it or not. They are us, and we are them, in every part of Syria.”

Extremist Groups Do Not Represent Syria

For her part, Walaa Taj Al-Din expressed deep sorrow for every drop of blood shed by innocent civilians and children, affirming that “the bill is always paid with civilian lives,” and that extremist movements do not represent Syria or its diverse components, but rather embody a single-colored extremist ideology.

She stressed that “massacres are a loss for everyone, and dialogue among Syrians must be based on love and peace. What is happening today to the Kurds, and what previously happened in Suwayda and the coast, is a great pain, met with total disregard from states and human rights and humanitarian organizations.”

She added that the crimes committed today amount to “ethnic genocide and cleansing based on ethnicity and sect,” affirming that any violation against a woman in any Syrian region is a pain shared by all Syrian women, and called for the activation of laws that protect women.

The Danger of Releasing ISIS Detainees

In turn, Afaf Al-Aridi spoke about the rapid escalation of events in northeastern Syria, pointing to the role of the Syrian Democratic Forces in combating terrorism for 13 years, and warning of the danger of releasing thousands of detainees, including women and children, many of whom belong to the ISIS terrorist organization.

She explained that these individuals pose a real threat to Syria’s future security, amid what she described as “international maneuvering and shifting agendas,” noting that the Syrian people—especially women and children—are the ones paying the price for these policies, in the context of serious violations of international and humanitarian norms.

Syrian Women’s Solidarity

Meanwhile, Grace Hilal emphasized that there are clear international laws to protect the rights of women and children, calling for civilians to be kept away from conflict zones, as women are the most affected by wars.

She said, “Syrian women’s solidarity must stand against any violation faced by women, whether in southern Syria or among our Kurdish brothers and sisters. We stand alongside Kurdish women in appreciation of their courage and role, and we hope that peace will prevail for them and for all of Syria