'19 July Revolution became an enlightenment for humanity and a hope of freedom for the oppressed'

“The revolution of Rojava became the reflection of free women’s will and proved the fact that women and peoples are not without an alternative," said Kongra Star on the occasion of the 11th anniversary of the revolution.

The women’s umbrella organization in North-East Syria, Kongra Star, released a statement marking the 11th anniversary of the 19 July Revolution in Rojava (West Kurdistan).

Kongra Star remembered thousands of martyrs of the revolution who fell fighting for a free life for all women and the oppressed peoples and congratulated Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, the patriotic people, all political prisoners, the guerrillas of Democratic Modernity and all revolutionary and democratic peoples on the occasion. Kongra Star pledged to follow in the footsteps of the martyrs and claim their legacy to the very end.

“Following the March 2012 revolution, the Kurds in Rojava adopted the policy of the third line. On one hand, they developed major popular uprisings on the streets against the Baath regime, while they, on the other hand, gradually constructed the infrastructure of the Autonomous Administration. The people of Kobanê, whose identity was usurped by the state in the early days of the revolution, later freed their land. Then they formed people’s assemblies and sowed the seeds of autonomous administration. Major steps were taken in the fields of health, municipal services and public safety. The fire of revolution lit in Kobanê then expanded to Derik, Afrin and Qamishlo. By then, the Kurds both governed themselves and ensured the security of their regions,” said the Kongra Star statement on Monday.

The statement continued; “The revolution of Rojava became an enlightenment for humanity and a hope of freedom for the oppressed peoples. It became the reflection of free women’s will and proved the fact that women and peoples are not without an alternative. In this sense, women organised themselves in all spheres of life and shaped the unveiling democratic will."