Zerîn Rûken is a member of the coordination of the Kurdistan Women’s Community (Komalên Jinên Kurdistanê, KJK). She spoke on Medya Haber about the importance of the women's army and current developments.

Imrali is the focus of the Third World War

Rûken first pointed out the importance of Abdullah Öcalan in creating a sense of history and self-confidence among Kurds, and especially among Kurdish women. As to Öcalan's 21-year resistance in prison, Rûken said that the entire conflict converged in Imrali.

“That is why Öcalan is at the center of the extermination attacks on the Kurdish people and the focus of the Third World War. The increased isolation and torture represent a continuation of the war of extermination. Last year, Öcalan said: 'As long as I am isolated, you are also isolated, the society as a whole is isolated.' Whenever Öcalan's isolation was tightened, so was also war and violence in the Middle East, the attacks on women increased and the war against the Kurds in particular became even more brutal.”

The KJK representative therefore called on everyone to do everything possible to break the isolation; resistance must spread.”

Leyla Agirî remembered

Rûken reminded Leyla Agirî who fell martyr following an air raid in June. Agirî was a member of the executive council of the KJK and worked for 27 years in various areas of the Kurdish freedom movement. “We are angry. Our revenge will be taken by organizing and building a free democratic life in Kurdistan.”

Turkish attacks worse than in the 80s or 90s

The KJK representative described the attacks as "worse than in the 80s or 90s". In particular attacks on women have increased. These attacks are part of the concept of special war. She added: “There is an attack on the freedom of women, on organized women, on women who fight. The gang leader [Turkish Interior Minister] Süleyman Soylu has stated that more than half of the PKK's struggle is carried out by women, that the PKK's struggle is a women's struggle. That may have been the first right thing he said in his life.

Yes, the PKK's struggle is truly a women's struggle. This applies to the social, political and military level. Therefore, methods such as rape are intended to attack the dignity of women. This is not only the case in North Kurdistan. The situation is similar in Serêkaniyê, Afrin and Girê Spî. The attacks in Rojava, South Kurdistan and the north are taking place in a coordinated manner. The Kurdish people have never allowed their dignity to be played with. The Kurdish women did not accept it and never will. The rapists and their state must be punished. The Kurdish women are resisting everywhere."

Turkish attacks against South Kurdistan not just against PKK but against the whole region

Rûken emphasized that the attacks against South Kurdistan and the invasion were not only aimed at the PKK, but to the whole South Kurdistan. Rûken particularly criticized the South Kurdish ruling party, the KDP, for its collaboration with Turkish fascism and said: “The KDP has to understand one thing, it only exists because the PKK exists. The KDP is selling South Kurdistan. The region is being occupied. As Kurdish women, we cannot move freely because MIT is everywhere. MIT can move around freely while Kurds can’t. The KDP must finally stop this dangerous policy. The PKK is organized politically, socially, diplomatically, culturally and militarily in all four parts of Kurdistan and is an anchored political movement in all areas."

The resistance in Heftanîn has inspired great admiration

Talking about the resistance in Heftanîn Rûken reminded that it has been going on for over three months and inspired great admiration among the people in South Kurdistan. The guerrillas have a 40-year tradition of resistance and a lot of experience.

The resistance in Heftanîn is pursuing a modern guerrilla strategy in which women guerrillas play a decisive role. Rûken emphasized that the guerrillas are resisting with determination but she added that the population must support the resistance more. Rûken appealed to women: “As women we have to strengthen our army, the YJA-Star. To come to the mountains means to be free, to adopt the attitude of a free woman and to stand up for it. Coming to the mountains means saying 'No' to the army of rapists."

Rûken warned that the patriarchy wants to turn the century of women into its opposite and impose a new rule. Describing the YJA Star's struggle as a struggle to defend the universal values of women, she pointed out the imperative to wage the women's struggle globally in this century.

The KJK representative also spoke about a campaign for self-defense of women in all parts of Kurdistan. She said: “The aim of the campaign is to defend the free woman and society. We have to use our right to self-defense and organize ourselves in all sections of the society. This campaign is also directed against the states that put us on terrorist lists. It will show who the terrorists are. Our campaign needs to be spread. We are in an important phase in this regard. Organizing women against the special war is of vital importance."