Lebanese journalist: we seek to exchange experience with north Syria women

SOZDAR JAMIL/ QAMISHLO

A Lebanese delegation of journalists, politicians, and lawyers have paid a visit to Rojava-north Syria to learn about the autonomous administration’s project and a cast a close look at women’s revolution, during their visit, Hawar news agency interviewed the lawyer, journalist and political activist Nemat Bader Addin to talk about the visit.

The text of the interview follows:

What has particularly drawn your attention during your visit to north Syria, what are your impressions about Rojava and women’s revolution? 

As you enter Rojava territories, it turns out to be women’s revolution, since people consider women the basis for emancipation, as long as women are free, society would be free, too.

We have seen many accomplishments by women here, like the Women’s Village, and the women’s effective participation in all institutions, administrations and the system of co-chairs where men and women are equal in all domains. Women are protected by laws like Personal Status Laws of marriage, divorce, inheritance, in addition to economic sufficiency. Contrarily to the Arab and Mideast countries where we suffer in terms of implementing the international laws like CEDAW treaty; people here act like a beehive where all contribute to build their community and autonomously rule themselves, a people that believe in their cause and struggle to get to emancipation. These factors indicate this is a comprehensive community capable of managing itself according to the autonomous administration’s unique project which we wish to implement in the Mideast; this project that supports women and perceives them the basis in everything.

During your visit to al-Shahba canton’s camps, how did you perceive Afrin residents there?

During our visit to al-Shahba canton’s camps, we have found them with high morale and energetic spirits where people never hesitate to cooperate with each other side by side, we have actually derived our strength from them; they would not await the relief organizations to assist them; in contrast, they are managing themselves, and do not want anything but return to their land, a struggling and resisting people in the face of Turkish occupation.

How do you evaluate the Turkish occupation to Afrin canton’s territories?

The Kurdish cause is similar to the Palestinian, both people have been subjected to occupation, abuse, bombardment, live bullets, violations, and a barrier was built on their lands, in the light of dual standards followed by the United Nations towards both peoples and silence about the massacres being committed against innocent peoples only for demanding their freedom and land, Turks must be told they are occupiers, their occupation must be documented in the UN and oppressive violations should be terminated against Afrin people, since land and the reality are the ones that create victories not only appealing to the great powers for support.

You as journalists and lawyers, how do you support Rojava revolution after casting a close look at it?

We will work on supporting the women’s project in Rojava, as we return to Lebanon, we will hold a women’s conference and call women from Rojava to attend in order to exchange experience with women in Lebanon and introduce them to the women’s project, and work and coordinate together, our duty as lawyers and journalists is facing the violations that target Afrin people and make their voice heard to the public opinion, expose Turkey’s policies, as of demographic change, occupation, rape, sabotage, looting against civilians amid world silence and information blackout that aim to conceal the truth, our duty as human beings is reporting the voice of free persons who call to freedom and peace.

J.O

ANHA

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