A workshop was organized in the Yazidi town of Shengal (Sinjar) under the lead of the Free Yazidi Women's Movement (TAJÊ) with the slogan "Leader Apo's (Abdullah Öcalan’s) Philosophy is the Foundation for the Freedom of Yazidi Women." The workshop was attended by representatives from women's organizations, the Democratic Autonomous Administration of Shengal, and a large number of women. During the session, a film about Abdullah Öcalan's life and struggle was shown. Members of the Yazidi Women's Movement from Russia, Germany, and Armenia gave video messages as well, and panels were held.

'YAZIDI WOMEN WILL FIGHT FOR THE FREEDOM OF ÖCALAN’

TAJÊ Spokesperson Sabiha Sebri, who made the opening speech, said that Yazidi women got to know themselves with Abdullah Öcalan's ideas and created a great change. She stated: “April became much more significant to us as we learned about Leader Apo's ideas and opinions. The month of April gained significance by recognizing Leader Apo's concept of Yazidi women. As Yazidi women, we will do whatever it takes to ensure the freedom of Leader Apo and strengthen our struggle. We need to further organize and prepare ourselves in order to accomplish Leader Apo's dreams. His ideas and views shine a light into the darkness, bringing Yazidi women out of it. As Yazidi people, we need Leader Apo's thoughts as we need food and water. In Shengal, there are numerous initiatives and conspiracies aimed at Yazidi women. We consider today's meeting to be extremely significant. We are not the same women prior to 2014, when we met free thoughts. On the occasion 4th of April (Birthday of Öcalan), we declare once more that we will not accept the enemy's dirty plans."

The workshop also included readings of Abdullah Öcalan's assessments of Yazidi women.

MESSAGES FROM ABROAD

The messages sent to the workshop were as follows:

Xanê Agal, member of the Êzidî Women's Council of Germany: "Our birthday is the same as Leader Apo's. We could not have saved ourselves if we had not known Leader Apo's philosophy. The Yazidi people suffered a lot in the genocide of 2014 and it was women that were hurt the most. Yet, it was again women that resisted the most.

Society will not be free unless women are free. Our civilisation was on the verge of extinction. Leader Apo showed this to us, and his thoughts served as a source of light and power for us. We believe that he will take even greater steps with his thoughts.”

Seyrana Cellad from Armenia: "We learned more about the Yazidis by studying Leader Apo's thoughts. We learned to know our friends and enemies better. We were able to expand our struggle and resistance thanks to Leader Apo's philosophy. Yazidi people must unite and fight together against the enemy."

Asya Işık from Russia: "We commemorate Leader Apo's birthday on behalf of all Yazidi women in Russia. We learned about the struggle for liberation thanks to Leader Apo's ideas and thoughts. We trained and organized ourselves as women in Russia using Leader Apo's principles.”

'WE SHOULD BUILD OUR INDEPENDENCE IN ORDER NOT TO GO EXTINCT”

Speaking at the seminar on Abdullah Öcalan's thoughts on Yazidis and women, TAJÊ Diplomacy member Suham Şengali said, “Revolutions have taken place in a variety of countries and at various times. Women, on the other hand, were never included. Women were given a unique place in the Kurdistan revolutionary struggle, which was organized with the ideas of Leader Apo, who placed a high value on women, as is proven by his remark "Society will not be free unless women are free." He transformed Kurdistan’s revolution into a social revolution.”

Shengal Autonomous Administration Co-chair Riham Hesen said the following at the seminar on the importance of the democratic nation system: "We cannot separate the concept of a democratic nation from the concept of democratic autonomy. We will go extinct if we do not establish our independence as the Yazidi community. We will construct our democratic autonomy based on Leader Apo's ideals and ideology."

"Bijî Serok Apo" (Long Live Leader Öcalan) and "Jin Jiyan Azadî" (Woman, Life, Freedom) were the workshop's closing slogans.