Rojava – Peoples In Arms

Kobanê is Internationalist. The whole world has to see it as its place because the fight against Daesh was the fight against the enemy of humanity – Ayşe Efendi, Co-Chair of the PYD in Kobanê

By joining Kongra Star I am able to liberate myself and, through that, also help other women to organise and liberate themselves. – Mona Youssef, Member of Kongra Star’s Coordination

Jineolojî was like a new light coming into our life, a new light for women, and a new light for society as a whole. A light of hope. – Yasmin Hussein, Jineolojî Coordinator and Teacher in Qamişlo.

I’m a woman who has been really impacted by the suffering of other women… Mala Jin is the structure which is able and has the aim to change this dynamic. – Sultan Hamdi, Coordinator at Mala Jin in Kobanê

Youth and Women are the driving force(s) of this revolution and of society. – Toleen Abdulwahid, Syrian Democratic Youth Council

The Syrian Regime’s aim was always to connect the student with the state, while in our education we are trying to connect the student with society. – Sihan Daoud, Education Committee in Dêrik

Women played the vanguard role historically, and have been continuing to do so in this revolution today. – Viyan Cudi, Teacher and Researcher at the Centre for Research
On the Kurdish Language in Qamişlo

The focus lies fundamentally in finding a solution through reconciliation. – Yohannes Hanna, (Alternative) Judicial System in Derîk

The extremist Islam is the one of the state, but the Islam of society is the one of Sufism. – Şêx Mihemed El-Qadirî, Co-Chair for Religious Institutions in Rojava

Heyva Sor isn’t just health work. Heyva Sor is working for humans, for humanity. – Shirin Ismahim Hamed, Nurse working at Heyva Sor

This house has been open for people that need us, and we are ready, with our hands and our soul, as humans, as welatparez, as Kurds to continue this work for humanity. – Nuri Abu Bakr, Natural Healer from Qamişlo

Support this Autonomous Administration, and this Revolution. Support, support, support! – Rashid Mohammed, Villager from Ain Diwar

What impressed me and led me to join the SDF initially was their behaviour between each other and between them and the population. It was radically different from Daesh. – Member of Revolutionary Youth and former SDF Member from Minbic

It is important that we, especially as young women – we, as the youth –, protect and defend our people, and are present in all areas – Nicha Fourier, Bethnahrain Women’s Protection Forces Commander – All-female Assyrian Military Unit, part of SDF

We go from house to house to discuss with women, showing the necessity of organisation, of self-organisation, and of selfdefence; for everybody in society, but especially for women. – Semira Mohammed, Member of HPC-Jin in Qamişlo

We want to live on free land. We will not let anyone take it away from us. That’s why we won’t be careless for a single minute! – Mossa Yassin, Member of HPC in Til Temir

If we don’t protect our homeland, who should and will protect it? It’s our duty – Shedwan Aawdi, Revolutionary Youth Movement in Ain Issa

When we fight imperialism, capitalism, and patriarchy in the Middle East, we also fight it in every other part of the world at the same time – Member of YPG International

There is a sense of honour around the inclusive term ‘Heval’ [comrade], and this sense of honour is also very horizontal, showing that we are the same, at the same level, and can work together in society – Heval Egîd, Internationalist from Italy

Without Rêber Apo’s ideology and philosophy, the women in Rojava would not have been able to organise themselves and lead this successful struggle – Jiyan Hamdo, Women’s Food Cooperative ‘Carcella’ in Dêrik

The most important thing is to never cut yourself off from your population – Member of Union of Cooperatives

This work and cooperative means autonomy for us. Now we can come freely, and more autonomously together and do our works – Women’s Cooperative, tailoring mattresses, in Tirbespî

Our self-organisation is also building up society, and all the people are responsible for one another – Member of Village Commune and Agricultural Cooperative

Our goal is that all people can preserve and defend their culture, not just in Rojava, but also in the whole of Kurdistan, and perhaps in the whole world – Member of TEV-ÇAND [Movement for Democratic Culture and Art] Centre in Kobanê

Cinema here is a revolution in itself. It is a revolution inside the revolution – Heval Gule, Heval Nadia, Heval Hogir, Komîna Film a Rojava

We know that we have to show the reality of war from here to European countries, too; to people who support Turkey. They have to know the price we are paying for those policies – Ferhad Zagros, Youth Media

People will have evidence through witnesses of this revolution. This is why I think it is important to write stories since sometimes they are more important than History – Fatma Ahmed, Writer, Theatre and Movie Director

We do music to have a positive impact on society, and to contribute to social and human changes in a society that was dominated and oppressed by Daesh/ISIS – Serdar Sherif, Singer, Teacher, Artist

In this revolution, we learn two things in particular: comradeship and equality, and especially comradeship and equality between women and men – Aziz Abe, Taekwondo fighter and teacher