After ISIS had expanded its presence into northern and eastern Syria and initiated an assault on Kobanê in September 2014, the extremist group had captured most of the city by 2 October and the siege of the city was met with fierce resistance by local Kurdish fighters.
On 22 September, Abdullah Öcalan issued a warning from İmralı Island Prison. “The fall of Kobanê means the fall of all Kurdistan,” he said, calling on everyone to “act according to this reality”.
The town’s plight captured the world’s attention, prompting numerous individuals and organisations to take action and many notable figures joined together to sign a declaration expressing solidarity with Kobanê.
Tens of thousands of people across the globe rallied for Kobane on 1 November 2014, which was announced as ‘World Kobanê Day’.
On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of World Kobanê Day, we publish part one of our interview with Sefkan Kobanê, one of the Kurdish fighters of the resistance of Kobanê and author of the book ‘Kobanê Resistance Diary’, which sheds light on how the historic victory over ISIS was achieved.
In part one of his exclusive interview with Medya News, Sefkan Kobanê tells us about the historical importance of World Kobanê Day and the leading role women played in the resistance of Kobanê, which is considered as a turning point in the war against ISIS.
Part two of the interview, including the complete video of the interview, will be published tomorrow.
Enjoy reading the first part of the interview here:
Medya News:
On 1 November 2014, many people in all parts of the world took to the streets to support the resistance of Kobanê [Kobani]. Simultaneously, these activists drew attention to the Kurdish resistance against the Islamic State (ISIS). How do you assess the significance of these protests in the context of internationalism?
Sefkan Kobanê:
First of all, of course, on 1 November, the World Day of Kobanê, I remember the international martyrs of the revolution, of the whole world, and I bow to them. Once again, I respectfully greet the friends and revolutionaries of the international community and the whole humanity who have supported us.
World Kobanê Day is a symbol of the humanity of the whole world and can be seen as the Stalingrad of the 21st century. Just as the first Stalingrad was against Hitler’s fascism, the second Stalingrad is against ISIS. ISIS is the greatest barbarism ever against humanity, it was a great barbarism against all societies. A great resistance and a great movement against ISIS started in Kobanê.
When the battle of Kobanê began, the whole world watched, they saw the heroism of Kobanê, they saw the resistance of Kobanê, there was a great support, intellectuals and all politicians of the world, philosophers, peace initiatives again, the initiative of the Commission of the Citizens of Turkey and Europe, they all started to act and on 1 November – the World Kobanê Day – everyone went out on the streets to support the resistance in Kobanê.
In Europe, all over the world, in the four parts of Kurdistan, there was a big uprising on that day. It was very meaningful. Humanity in one line, at one point, the whole of humanity standing in resistance and in solidarity with Kobanê for the conscience of humanity. Once again, the spirit of great internationalism. In the 21st century, this day was revolutionary.
The whole world and all humanity gathered in Kobanê, it was like a symbol, it was a new spirit, it was a new hope that made Kobanê blossom again. They said that at the end of the 20th century real socialism failed, that socialism and communism died and ended, that it was impossible. Humanity and socialism, freedom and equality were born again in the resistance of Kobanê, and internationalism and a new revolution of the peoples began.
Medya News:
Thank you. Our second question would be: Before ISIS began to annex Syria, a revolution had started in Rojava [North and East Syria]. What was the political situation and the level of popular organisation in Rojava at that time?
Sefkan Kobanê:
First of all, of course, the revolution of 19 July 2012, the revolution of Kobanê, had started. This revolution was a revolution of equality and freedom for humanity, for society, for the people. They said it was an Arab revolution, a spring revolution, but the revolution was a people’s revolution, a Kurdish revolution. The revolution of the Kurdish people, the YPG [People’s Defence Units] and the YPJ [Women’s Defence Units] led it. What were the guiding thoughts? The thoughts and philosophy of the Abdullah Öcalan. It is also called democratic socialism or democratic nation. What exactly did it look like? It was confederalism, councils and communes were organised.
I was a witness of those days before the revolution started. I myself was wounded in Kobanê. In 2012, 2013, 2014, I took part in organising activities, fighting activities and all parts of the resistance in Kobanê. In those days there was construction, there was construction of the revolution. There was a construction of a new society, a construction under the vanguard of women, their resistance, the society was rebuilt. That’s why there was a revolution, the revolution of the 21st century, the revolution started on 19 July in Kobanê and on 20 July the resistance developed in Efrîn [Afrin] and then in Cizîrê [Jazira] and in the whole of Rojava Kurdistan.
Of course, this resistance was not limited to that, it was led by young people, by women, and after the declaration of the YPJ, the Women’s Defence Units, women proved themselves both in people’s defence, in defence and in armed resistance. Women in the Middle East have been enslaved, ISIS has enslaved them. On 3 August, they attacked Şengal [Sinjar] and enslaved 5,000 Yazidi Kurdish women there. With their resistance, the YPJ took revenge on ISIS. They took revenge for the Yazidi women and youth. The YPJ became a symbol for this. They saw that there were young women from the Middle East, Kurds, Turks, Armenians, Arabs among them, then many internationalists from the world came and took part in it. They took a great lead and became a symbol for it.
The society was built under the leadership of women. Society was organised under the leadership of women. That is why everything happened at once. There was protection, there was construction, life was organised accordingly, there was culture, there were new songs and poems, there was a new spirit, there was a new feeling. Society was rebuilt, and that is why a great revolution took place in Kobanê and Rojava, and it became an example for the whole world.
