Internationalist fighters of the YPG/YPJ (People’s/Women’s Defense Units) in Rojava released a music video of the guerrilla anthem "Çerxa Şoreşe" to mark the 45th anniversary of the Kurdish Freedom Struggle.

Bager Resistencia, who took part in the preparatory work, spoke to ANF about the purpose and preparation process of the video clip.

“3 Germans, 1 Irish, 1 American, 1 Czech, 1 Brazilian and a Kurdish friend from Mardin played in the video clip. In fact, we wanted to welcome the 45th anniversary of the freedom struggle by further highlighting Abdullah Öcalan's ideas for a Democratic Nation,” Resistencia told ANF.

“As internationalist fighters of the YPG and the YPJ, we decided to shoot a music video together. First, we looked for a song. We wanted a song that would reflect the Kurdish Freedom Struggle. Initially, we wanted to realize this project to mark the 10th anniversary of the Rojava Revolution. However, we had to postpone it because of the attacks. We had to fulfil our main duty as a military force,” Resistencia said.

'WE TRIED TO REFLECT EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE'

Resistencia gave information about the rehearsals and preparation process: “Our friend Berçem, who played in the video clip, assumed a leading role during the rehearsals because she knows about music. We rehearsed together for a while. Then we recorded the song in a studio. We had long discussions about how we could shoot a video clip suitable for the song. As internationalist fighters of the YPG and the YPJ, we came to the idea that it should be a clip that would better reflect what we are fighting for and our social bond. We decided to shoot a clip that reflects every moment and dimension of life instead of just war.”

'WE WANTED TO DIVERT GLOBAL PUBLIC OPINION TO KURDISTAN'

Resistencia pointed out that they wanted to expose the attacks against Kurdistan to the whole world. “With this clip, we wanted to call attention to the breath-taking struggle that has been waged in Kurdistan for 45 years. We wanted to divert world public opinion, which currently focuses on the Ukraine-Russia war, to the attacks against Kurdistan. Currently in Kurdistan, chemical, nuclear and prohibited weapons are frequently used. There has been an international silence in this sense. Moreover, the attacks against Rojava have recently escalated. In fact, we wanted to show the world public opinion what’s happening in Kurdistan with a work of art. Also, we prepared English subtitles for the international audience.”

'ÖCALAN'S IDEAS ARE IMPORTANT TO THE WHOLE WORLD'

Resistencia spoke about the ending scene of the clip where the slogans "Bîjî Serok Apo" [Long Live Leader Öcalan] and "Bîjî Berxwedana Rojava" [Long Live the Rojava Resistance] are heard:

“With the slogans “Bîjî Serok Apo” and “Bîjî Berxwedana Rojava”, we wanted to emphasize how important the ideas of Abdullah Öcalan, who has been held in the İmralı prison for 24 years, are for the whole world. It has become an outstanding struggle that started half a century ago with precursors Haki Karer and Kemal Pirs and it is embraced by the whole world today. Therefore, more than ever, we need to fight for the physical freedom of Öcalan.

With the slogan of Bîjî Berxwedana Rojava, we wanted to stress that a revolution is still possible after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Rojava Revolution has shown that free life is actually possible. The Rojava Revolution also played a very important role for the women of the world. Because it is deemed a women's revolution. With the revolution, women who were once imprisoned at home are now able to work freely in all areas of the public sphere.”

'LET'S SUPPORT THE STRUGGLE AGAINST BARBARIAN ATTACKS'

Finally, Resistencia called for solidarity with the Kurdistan Freedom Struggle, saying, “We call on the whole world to embrace the Kurdistan Freedom Struggle which is facing barbarian and immoral attacks on its 45th anniversary. We call on all internationalists in the world to come to Rojava and join the struggle.”