Austrian political scientist and cultural anthropologist Thomas Schimidinger took part in a discussion at the Amed Book Fair yesterday entitled: “The Rojava Revolution from the viewpoint of a foreign journalist”. Schimidinger said the life and death struggle in Rojava was not yet over.

Schmidinger met booklovers at a session chaired by Professor Haluk Gerger to talk about his book: “War and Revolution in Syrian Kurdistan: Voices and Analysis from Rojava”. Schmidinger said that he had taken a general view of the civil war in Syria, while focusing on the Kurds of Rojava who were attempting to construct a new political and social order. Schimidinger said he has been going to Syria since 2006, and has included a history of the country going back to colonial times. 

The writer has included interviews with prominent political figures such as Salih Müslim and Asya Abdullah in his book, in addition to representatives of civil society organisations, women, fighters and ordinary people. The author said he had been affected by the resistance in Kobanê, adding that the life and death struggle in Rojava was not yet over. Schimidinger said that the struggle needed international support.