Celebrations of March 8th in NE Syria ended with lyrical, folkloric performances

In the morning, celebrations on the occasion of International Women's Day were launched in the areas of north and east Syria. In Qamishlo canton, several celebrations were organized, including one in Amuda district which was organized in the village of Girê Moza, and in the district of Tirbê Spiyê, it was organized in Mezkaft Dam, in Dêrik district, it was organized in Dêrik Stadium, in addition to a celebration in Al-Shahba canton, and another in the city of Aleppo.

All the celebrations witnessed a large turnout of women wearing their Kurdish uniforms, raising flags of the Women's Protection Units, the flags of the Kongra Star, and pictures of the martyrs, in which speeches were delivered and singing performances presented.

AMUDA

The celebration began with a minute of silence, followed by a speech given by the member of the Kongra Star Munawar Khaled who congratulated all women on the eighth of March, and said: “We bless the 8^th of March on the leader of humanity Abdullah Ocalan, without whom women would not have reached this stage, and all the vanguard women who got rid of slavery and did not submit to the injustice of authoritarian and patriarchal systems that have handcuffed women for decades."

Then the fighter in the ranks of the Women's Protection Units Zilan Orkish read a letter on behalf of the General Command of the Women's Protection Units, in which she said: "The message of the 8^th of March to all women who struggled for freedom, peace, security, safety and patriotism. We bless the eighth of March on you, we struggle for these aforementioned principles and our slogan is that we will never give up, we are here and here is freedom, peace, love, jasmine."

While many artistic bands performed folkloric songs, in addition to a number of bands performing folkloric dabkeh dances, including the Young Women Troupe of the Hori Center for Culture and Art in Amuda district, the Martyr Mezgin Troupe, Agrî Band, the Martyr Dilan Band for Folk Dance, Jinology Troupe for International Women, The Martyr Zilan Ensemble of ed-Dirbasiyah Cultural Center, in addition to presenting poetry compositions by the poet Farhad Mardi.

QAMISHLO

In Qamishlo city, the celebration began with holding a minute of silence by the attendees, followed by a speech delivered by the Member of the Kongra Star Menijah Haider who in turn blessed International Women's Day on all women of the world, as well as all women on the battlefields and women struggling in prisons.

On this occasion, Menijah pledged the leader Abdullah Ocalan to escalate their struggle and continue the path of resistance, taking the thought and philosophy of the leader as an approach for them to thwart the conspiracies that target women.

This was followed by a speech in the name of the Women's Protection Units delivered by the Commander, Roj Deverm, who at the beginning blessed all women struggling for freedom, peace, security and justice on March 8^th, and said: "The promises for which women rose up against the masculine mentality, constitutions and laws that crush their aspirations have been successive, demanding a change that will set fair scales for the world and spread peace wherever devastation occurred, as women have carried bread and roses throughout ages, in reference to the right to life and a decent life without discrimination."

This was followed by musical and lyrical performances by the Martyr Sakina Ensemble, Bale Band, Botan Ensemble, and Kulilk Rojava Ensemble of the Culture and Art Movement in al-Jazira region.

DÊRIK

In the celebration of Dêrik, the Administrator at the Kongra Star in Dêrik district, Wasfah Morad, delivered a speech in which she said, "The struggle of women in north and east Syria has proven to the women of the whole world that women have carried the banner of sacrifice and redemption and have proven their strength in all fields in terms of military, political and all other fields."

In turn, the Administrator at the Kongra Star of Dêrik, Shadia al-Youssef, said: "On their feast, women painted a bright color palette with gentle feminine imprint, may God protect them with tenderness and beauty, and sacrifice of will and determination because women are life."

In turn, the official of Olv Tau Institute for the Syriac language, Reem Israel, congratulated all the women of the world on this occasion which cheers up and sends hope and reassurance to all women who were deprived of their most basic rights.

Reem continued, "The sacrifices of women in north and east Syria have become an example to be followed by all the women of the world, who have registered the most wonderful epics of heroism, sacrifice and redemption."

In turn, Ghada Dêrik, the Commander of the Women Protection Units in Dêrik read the message of the General Command of the Women’s Protection Units, in which she stated, "The Women's Protection Units did not and will not calm down until the liberation of all occupied areas, the liberation of the kidnapped women and standing in the face of all attacks launched by the Turkish fascism."

After completing the words, Judy band of Dijlah Center for Culture and Art, Koçerat  Region Band, Newroz Camp Band, and the Syriac Inana Band performed a number of revolutionary and folk songs, while Kafana Zerin Band of al-Shahba canton performed some songs.

TIRBÊ SPÎYÊ / TEL HAMIS

In the celebration of Tirbê Spiyê, the Administrator of the Kongra Star, Clara Edessa, gave a speech in which she referred to the participation of all components together on International Women's Day, stressing that "history is written by the women of north and east Syria through their struggle and revolution which have become a symbol for the whole world."

In turn, the Commander of the Women's Protection Units, Berfin Hassen, gave a speech in which she indicated that the Women's Protection Units were formed to defend the homeland and women's rights, and with the support of mothers to these units, they have become a symbol of resistance in the world.

The Administrator of the Kongra Star in Tel Hamis district, Jozah al-Hassoud, also gave a speech in which she explained that women today in north and east Syria have been able to be administrators in society and leaders in the military fronts thanks to the thought and philosophy of the leader Abdullah Ocalan.

After that, many musical groups and artists performed songs and held Dabkeh circles, including Laureen Arab Dabkeh Troupe from Tel Koçer, Stera Zerin Ensemble from Qamishlo, Çia Qamishlo Dabkeh Band from Tel Hamis, in addition to the artist Najla Ali.

In turn, the Martyr Sakinah Ensemble from Tel Hamis performed some theatrical performances on violence and the male power exercised over women before the start of North and East Syria Revolution.

AL-HASAKAH

The International Women's Day event in Al-Hasakah was concluded with several artistic, theatrical and lyrical performances by the "Girê Stêrk" Band, the Martyr Arjin Band, and the Young Women Troupe, and a play was performed by Tolhildan Troupe of Khabur Center for Culture and Art.

ED-DIRBASIYAH

The March 8^th event in ed-Dirbasiyah was concluded with Zilan Ensemble of the Culture and Art Center presenting a number of folk songs, followed by a women's troupe performing a folkloric dance, amid Dabkeh circles held by women.

ALEPPO

The March 8^th celebration in Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood and Ashrafieh in the city of Aleppo included singing, theatrical and folk dance performances by the bands affiliated with Jamil Horo Center for Culture and Art and the Kongra Star.

The Martyr Fajin Ensemble and the Children's Band presented some revolutionary songs, as well as the presentation of many revolutionary songs by the two members of Jamil Horo Center for Culture, Yasmine Koshan and Fatima Abdo.

A play was shown, the content of which focused on the role of women in Rojava Revolution and their struggle.

The Martyr Barin Troupe performed some folkloric dances.

The celebration ended with the holding of Dabkeh circles by the attendees on the impact of the revolutionary songs.

AL-SHAHBA

Thousands of Afrin residents; Kurds, Arabs and Turkmens gathered in Allusha village in al-Ahdath district in al-Shahba canton to participate in the event organized by the Golden Crescent Movement of the Culture and Art Authority of Afrin region on the occasion of International Women's Day.

The celebration square was decorated with the flags of the Free Women Union, the Golden Crescent Movement, the Kongra Star, and pictures of the martyr Ilan Kobani.

The celebration began with a minute of silence, followed by several speeches delivered by the Administrator of the Kongra Star Coordination Conference for Afrin, Wahida Abdo, and the Co-chair of the Social Affairs Body for Afrin region Warda Sheikho.

The words congratulated all women, the people of north and east Syria, the mothers and wives of the martyrs, and the leader of free peoples Abdullah Ocalan on the Women's Day.

The words also indicated that the philosophy and thought of the leader Abdullah Ocalan had a great role in liberating women from the oppression and tyranny that they lived centuries ago.

The words affirmed that they "continue to adopt the thought and philosophy of the leader Abdullah Ocalan until the liberation of all the women of the world and the liberation of the occupied territories from the hands of the Turkish occupation and its mercenaries."

After that, the people listened to the voice of the leader Abdullah Ocalan who spoke about the role of women in leading society.

Then, folk songs and dances were performed, and a play was shown on the need to liberate women from the male mentality.

Then, the event concluded with holding Dabkeh circles on the impact of folk songs.

RAQQA

In Raqqa, the March 8^th event which was held in the 17^th Division, located in the north of Raqqa city, ended with songs and various performances.

The artist Sidra Mohamed in Turkmen, Hedayat Ismat in Kurdish, and Yasmine Al-Askar in Arabic, in addition to "Weter" Band of Culture and Art in Raqqa performed songs that simulated the popular heritage and the strugglers' resistance.

In addition, a folkloric performance was presented by "Nassim Al Furat" Band in Deir Ezzor, a Kurdish Dabkeh presented by Raqqa Folklore Ensemble, and a bunch of poems were also presented by Deir Ezzor children dealing with the reality of searching for freedom.

From the cities of Manbij and Raqqa, girls performed a sporting show of "taekwondo."

The ceremony included honoring the fighters of Raqqa Military Council, the Women’s Administration in Raqqa, the Future Syria Party and the Young Women’s Union on the occasion of the International Women's Day.

D.H

ANHA