Coverage of recent events in Syria – the rout of President Bashar al-Assad by the Islamist group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) – makes little mention of the women’s revolution that is taking place in DAANES (also known as Rojava) in NE Syria since 2012, a grassroots democracy committed to multi-ethnic inclusivity and an economic model based on ecological sustainability and cooperatives.
As Western media rushes to legitimise HTS and its leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, and Western governments are considering the removal of HTS from the list of proscribed terrorist organisations, we need to bear in mind their governance of Idlib which was authoritarian, anti-woman and based on sharia laws. At the same time, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) led by Abdullah Öcalan who developed the blueprint for the Rojava model of democratic confederalism is proscribed by Western governments at the behest of Turkey, a NATO ally.
HTS is an informal ally of Turkey which is intent on crushing the Kurdish women’s revolution in a bid to prevent its own Kurdish population, along the border with Syria, from implementing a similar model of participatory democracy. Turkey has invaded and occupied parts of Rojava and has been bombing vital energy and water infrastructure in Rojava and killing activists, journalists and civilians. While the world is preoccupied with HTS, Turkey is redoubling its efforts under cover.
We, the undersigned, stand in solidarity with Kongra Star, the umbrella group of women’s organisations, in Rojava. We demand that women’s rights be protected and that DAANES, which has shown the world what true equality and democracy looks like, be protected. It has become an inspirational beacon for women around the world. If the UK government is truly committed to women’s rights, we ask it to use its influence on the global stage to ensure that the Rojava model is allowed to flourish without interference from Turkey or HTS. This includes a suspension of the arms trade with Turkey.
Signatories:
