International Women’s Day was celebrated across North and East Syria (Rojava) on Tuesday as tens of thousands of women participated in events.
In Kobani, a celebration in Kobani Forest, organised by Kongreya Star, a confederation of women’s groups, began with a moment of silence in memory of all who were martyred in the fight for freedom. After the initial addresses, music and dance groups took to the stage, and the participants, most in national dress, danced and chanted slogans.
In Shahba, women gathered for celebrations in the village of Elewişê in Ehdas district. The opening address was made by a representative of Kongreya Star.
In Qamishli (Qamishlo), a crowd gathered in a stadium for International Women’s Day, chanting, ‘We will defend our revolution and reclaim our lands!’ A moment of silence was followed by addresses by representatives of women’s groups, then Nesrin Botan and the music group ‘Delila’ took to the stage. The music was followed by dance performances.
In the city of Aleppo, thousands of women from Kurdish, Arab, Assyrian and Turkmen communities in various neighbourhoods joined in the celebrations organised by Kongreya Star. The opening address was made by a representative of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), a women’s defence force in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).
In Amuda, women gathered on Mount Girê Moza. An official from the Future Party of Syria spoke at the event, emphasising that women have started playing a most crucial role in both politics and military matters in the region. The speech was followed by a concert, and a play entitled ‘Daykê’ (‘Mother’).
The celebration in Tall Tamr was attended by women in national dress from Kurdish, Arab and Asuri communities in Tall Tamr, Zirgana and the Kizwan mountains. Political figures who had played a leading role in the women’s liberation struggle both in the distant and near past, such as Rosa Luxemburg, Clara Zetkin, Zenûbya, Sakine Cansız, Mîna Qazî, Ivana Hoffmann, Sosin Bîrhat, Nûjîn Amed, Leyla Qasim and Hevrîn Xelef, were commemorated in addresses.
In al-Hasakah, Kurdish, Arab, Assyrian and Armenian women and representatives of various political parties and peoples’ assemblies joined in the celebrations.
