Kongra Star calls for global women's solidarity with women in Iran against oppression

The Relations Office of the Kongra Star issued a statement to the public opinion in terms of the popular protests that have been ongoing in Iran and East Kurdistan since December 28th.

The statement was read by the office member Hevin Musa in the Ashrafiyeh neighborhood of Aleppo, in the presence of dozens of Kongra Star members and representatives from various women's movements.

The statement began by noting that the authoritarian and dictatorial regimes have historically been a major obstacle to societal development due to their reliance on absolute power and the suppression of individual and collective freedoms, leading to the stifling of creativity, weakening political participation, and marginalizing the most vulnerable groups, especially women.

The statement pointed out that these regimes share similar tools of oppression, deeming the Iranian regime as a blatant example of imposing unjust laws and restrictions on women, such as the mandatory hijab and the curtailment of civil and political rights, thus transforming women's bodies and lives into arenas of control.

The statement noted that this type of governance makes the women and the peoples' resistance essential for preserving human dignity and the right to freedom.

In this context, the statement recalled the 2022 uprising in Iran and East Kurdistan, during which the slogan "Jin, Jiyan, Azadi" (Women, Life, and Freedom) was chanted. It emphasized that women were at the heart and soul of that revolution, leading the way and confronting repression with awareness and determination.

The statement made clear that this role made women a direct target of the Iranian regime, which resorted to mass arrests, the use of sexual violence as a political weapon, media defamation, and field killings in an attempt to break their will and silence their voices.

The statement mentioned that among the victims of this repression was the young woman Sajer Etemadi, who died from her wounds after being shot by regime forces while participating in protests in Farsan. It asserted that her death was not an isolated incident, but rather a stark illustration of the heavy price women in Iran pay daily for freedom.

The statement affirmed that targeting women in Iran is part of a recurring pattern among authoritarian regimes that rule peoples by force, and that the struggle of Iranian women is linked to the struggles of women in Syria and around the world.

In closing, the women expressed their complete solidarity with women in Iran and with every woman facing oppression and discrimination under authoritarian regimes, noting that the slogan "Jin, Jiyan, Azadi" has become a global call against tyranny, reminding everyone that the freedom of peoples begins with the freedom of women.

The statement also appealed to women in Iran, Syria, and the world to intensify their struggle and transform it into a collective force capable of confronting oppression, defending rights, and establishing justice and equality in societies suffering from tyranny and discrimination.

J.J

ANHA