Mustafa Karasu, a member of the Executive Council of the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), has stressed the paramount importance of women’s liberation within the Kurdish freedom movement and discussed the significance of the co-presidency system ahead of the upcoming local elections in Turkey.
In a recent interview with Medya Haber TV on the eve of International Women’s Day, Karasu saluted women around the world who are engaged in the struggle for liberation and honoured those who have died for the cause, asserting that 8 March goes beyond being a day of women’s solidarity to symbolise a global turning point for societal liberation driven by women.
Highlighting the pernicious effects of capitalist modernity and male domination on society, he emphasised the crucial role of women in overturning these oppressive structures, not only for their liberation, but for the freedom of all humanity, including men.
Women’s liberation, Karasu argues, is inextricably linked to the broader struggle for freedom and democracy within Kurdish society and beyond.
Drawing on the thoughts of Abdullah Öcalan, Karasu reiterated the belief that the 21st century is the era of women’s freedom. He foresees a strong demonstration of women’s power on 8 March as they show their leadership in the quest for real democracy and freedom in the world.
The KCK leader also shed light on the historical basis of women’s liberation, tracing it back to Neolithic societies where women held significant power. This historical perspective, Karasu noted, provides a strong foundation for the current struggle against male domination and positions the ideology of women’s liberation as an impregnable force against patriarchal structures.
In discussing the co-presidency system as a central element of the women’s liberation struggle, Karasu emphasised its role in creating a new social ethos. He argued that co-presidency is not about sharing power, but about establishing a new form of democratic governance that includes and empowers women equally.
The KCK executive believes that the upcoming local elections are not just a political contest but a reflection of the ongoing struggle for equality, liberation and self-determination, and cited attempts by the Turkish government and other male-dominated forces to undermine the co-presidency system, especially in the context of local elections.
