On The Fourth Anniversary Of The ‘Jin Jiyan Azadi’ Revolution Let’s Increase Women’s Solidarity

On the fourth anniversary of the ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadî’ Revolution, we respectfully and gratefully commemorate, in the persons of Shiler Resuli and Jina Amini, all the martyrs of the revolution who were killed and executed in the streets of Iran and Rojhilat (East Kurdistan) while protesting the massacres. Likewise, on the fourth anniversary of the killing of Jina Amini, we commemorate Nilufer Mucawir, who was brutally tortured and killed by Iranian forces; we pledge that we will not remain silent and that we will hold the killers accountable through struggle and organization. Systematic and organized violence against women, once again, manifested itself in the person of Nilufer Mucawir. For us women, insisting on a free and meaningful life is the only alternative to this organized and deliberate murderous system.

Undoubtedly, very rapid changes have taken place in the 21st century and continue to take place. The process of the Kurdish people’s resurgence under the leadership of Leader Ocalan has had a profound resonance not only in Turkey and Bakur (North Kurdistan), but also across the four parts of Kurdistan and in Europe. It has brought the project of democratic integration with the four states in the region, on the basis of democratization, onto the agenda of world public opinion. On this basis, Rojhilat (East Kurdistan) and Iran is one of the areas that must be democratized, particularly because of the wars that continue from time to time. This is because the repressive Iranian regime cannot provide an answer to, or a solution to the problems of the Iranian people. Therefore, as long as Iran does not democratize, neither a solution nor a way out of this deep crisis will be possible. If the peoples of Iran struggle for a democratic alternative to Iran on the basis of the philosophy of ‘Jin Jiyan Azadi’, then undoubtedly the democratization of Iran will also become possible.

Iranian women are affected by both the regime and the war against it

Iranian women in particular are virtually left unable to breathe, both because of the regimes attacks and also because of the devastating war against Iran by Israel and the US. All women,  but especially Kurdish women, are being subjected to a situation worse than death. Therefore, questioning this situation is a vital matter. Seeking and questioning leads people toward the right answers. The fact that women took the lead in the protests in Iran began with questioning this system. In Iran, a form of slavery was being imposed on the Kurdish, Azeri, Baloch and Persian peoples, as well as on women. In the person of Jina Amini, Iranian women refused to accept this imposition and began seeking a free life. This search reached its peak with the philosophy of Jin Jiyan Azadi, which forms the basis of Abdullah Ocalan’s thoughts and the more than 30-year struggle of the Kurdish Women’s Movement. Once again, it became clear that seeking and questioning, and the struggle for freedom and equality, achieve results under women’s leadership.

A life without meaning and without women’s leadership cannot be permanent or sustainable. At the same time, a life distant from freedom cannot be lived. As the people took to the streets under the leadership of women, men who were disturbed by this regime and system also took to the streets, following the footsteps of the resisting women. This reality among men also shows that changes based on democratization will take place in Iran. In fact, men took to the streets and joined the Jin Jiyan Azadi uprising not only in opposition to oppression against women, but also in opposition to the oppression imposed on themselves. On the one hand, the reality of dominant and rigid masculinity, and on the other, the reality of men who want to live freely and equally, emerged clearly in the uprising of the Jin Jiyan Azadi Revolution. The resistance of Jina Amini, Shiler Resuli and Nilufer Mucawir, and the women and young people killed in the cities of Iran-Rojhilat, together with all the resisting women, show us the way to protect and sustain the philosophy of Jin Jiyan Azadi. At the same time, the stance and resistance displayed in the prisons of the Iranian regime under the leadership of Zeynep Celaliyan, Pakshan Azizi and Warisha Moradi demonstrate that the struggle of the ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadi’ Revolution continues uninterrupted.”

If we follow in the footsteps of resisting women, we can fight the murderous system in an organized manner. Because a woman without organization and communal structures remains defenseless within the murderous system, which is the enemy of women. In order to protect ourselves, on the fourth anniversary of the ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadi’ uprising, we must raise our consciousness, expand our struggle and deepen it. Leader Ocalan brought the Kurds from the execution table to the negotiating table. Kurdish, Persian, Baloch and Azeri women in particular can develop their communes, organizations and academies, as well as spaces for education, raising consciousness and sharing, through solidarity and unity. Women grow by sharing and reaching other women. This is why the ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadi’ Revolution has been embraced by women everywhere. Because rape culture is forced on women and society in the same way all over the world.

This rape culture is growing in an organized manner; the murderous system is afraid of women taking the lead and organizing. However, as the attacks increase, women’s unity, solidarity and sharing undoubtedly increase as well. On the fourth anniversary of the ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadi’ Revolution, rather than tables documenting the number of women killed, we hope that communes, academies and spaces for women’s free learning will become part of the agenda of world public opinion. Likewise, on the fourth anniversary of the killing of Jina Amini, everyone, especially women, must take to the streets and demonstrate their reaction. On this basis, we believe that all women and young people will transform the struggle for women’s freedom into a struggle to build a democratic and communal life.