BERÇEM CÛDÎ

Kobanî - While the role of women in the establishment of the first society came to the forefront, all their achievements were taken from them one by one with the development of the patriarchal system. The 5,000-year-old patriarchal mentality has caused great pain on humanity with its war policies for its interests. In the male-dominant system, women are subjected to femicide, rape, violence, harassment, and abuse, and the women resisting this system are always targeted. One of the peoples subjected to all forms of violence and genocide is the Kurdish people. For thousands of years, Kurds have faced persecution, denial, and the most fascist perceptions. For this reason, the history of the Kurdish people is full of resistance.

Women who left their mark on history

The resistance of Kurdish women also comes to the forefront in history. There were many resisting Kurdish women in history such as Meyan Xatûn, Zerîfe Xanim, Adîle Xan, Mîna Qazî Mihemed, Meryem Xan, Zarîfe, Besê, Deyfe Xatun, Fata Reş, Hanzat Xanim, Qedem Xêr, Bêrîtan, Zilan, Sakine Cansiz, Viyan Soran, Arîn Mîrkan, Avêsta Xabûr, Hevrîn Xelef, Zehra Berkel and many more… These women played an important role in revolutions as leaders, revolutionaries, commanders, and warriors. They bravely sacrificed their lives and built a rich legacy to build a free future for the next women.

Women keep struggling by organizing themselves

Kurdish women such as Gûtî, Mîtanî, Naîrî, Hîtîtî, Ûrartû, Medan and many more keep struggling against all attacks and obstacles by organizing themselves. In the 21st century, they took place in the Kurdish Freedom Movement, formed their own parties, defense units, movements, organizations, and ideologies under the leadership of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan. We spoke to Rîma Ehmed, a member of the Jineology Research Center in the Euphrates Region, about the resistance of the Kurdish women.

“The history of the Kurdish people is full of the struggles of prominent women and women who left their mark on history,” Rîma Ehmed said, “There are thousands of Kurdish women playing an important role in society with their opinions, wishes, and identities. Throughout history, women have always resisted the patriarchal system. They have struggled to protect their achievements. The male-dominant system has been trying to seize the achievements of women and use them for its own benefit. Women have organized themselves, formed alliances, and struggled against this system.”

 “Women's struggle will be crowned with the insistence on freedom”

Speaking about the revolution that started in Rojava, Rîma Ehmed said, “The revolution in Rojava started with the color, voice, and leadership of women. The revolution of the women of Rojava is based on the history of Kurdish women full of resistance and struggle. Thus, a democratic and equal system in which women play an important role has been established in Rojava. The struggle of Kurdish women will continue and will be crowned with the insistence of freedom. The struggle and solidarity of Kurdish women have become more organized in the 21st century thanks to the ideology of leader Abdullah Öcalan. They have actively participated in politics, science, education, defense and etc. Kurdish women have become a symbol in Kurdistan, the Middle East, and the world.”