East Kurdistan (Rojhilat/Iranian Kurdistan) Women’s Defence Forces (HPJ) celebrated International Women’s Day on 8 March with a military ceremony.
KJAR Coordination Member Ciwana Sinê, KODAR Co-chair Gulan Fehim, HPJ Commander Faraşin Mahabat, YJCR Coordination Member Viyan Karxo, and HPJ Commander Rojda Zagros were present at the ceremony which was held with the slogan: “Let’s end femicide through the unity of women”.
HPJ Commander Faraşin Mahabat spoke during the ceremony : “We congratulate all women who struggle against male domination and who risk their lives for women’s emancipation”, she stated and continued: “A new era begins. This period is the period of women. It is the period of living together with freedom, democracy, and nature”.
She also stated that the Kurdish women’s movement serves as an example and inspires other women throughout the world. Recalling the Iranian regime’s oppressive politics against women, she drew attention to the importance of self-defence and organisation. “Azeri, Baloch, Persian: if we can unite as all women living in Eastern Kurdistan, then we can achieve freedom”, she stated.