Member of Ishtar Council Coordination: YPJ are guarantee for protecting women, society

Layla Azro Ilhan, a member of the Coordination of the Ishtar Council in the Makhmour Camp in Southern Kurdistan, spoke about the issue of integrating the Women’s Protection Units into the structure of the Syrian Ministry of Defense. In an exclusive statement to ANHA agency, she announced the council’s solidarity with the campaign “We Are All YPJ, YPJ Represents Us,” launched on May 2 in support of the Women’s Protection Units.

“The Women’s Protection Units are the force of women’s struggle”

Layla Azro Ilhan drew attention to the role of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) in defending women and humanity, saying: “The Women’s Protection Units are the hope for advancing women’s struggle for freedom. These units have become the force protecting women’s will not only for the women of Rojava, North and East Syria, but for all Kurdish women, and even for all young women struggling against the patriarchal system.”

She added: “With the emergence of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), women and society as a whole realized the importance of women’s presence within armed forces. Because these units demonstrated to everyone the role of women in protecting society, their existence and slogan became synonymous with the phrase: ‘Beautiful women defeating dirty men.’ This was not merely a slogan, but also a symbol of hope and women’s self-confidence in their struggle for freedom against the ruling system.

Every woman who fought against the dominant patriarchal order found herself reflected in the ranks of the Women’s Protection Units and regarded them as her stronghold. Everyone witnessed how women became a driving force in the Rojava Kurdistan Revolution, and how (ISIS) mercenaries were defeated through their strength. Everyone saw the effective power of the Women’s Protection Units; therefore, the remnants of fear this force and seek to marginalize it.”

Commenting on the interim government’s refusal to recognize the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), Layla stated: “What this government currently represents is a ruling power dominated by men. The prevailing mentality in Damascus fears not only women’s military strength, but also their organized power a force that has gained acceptance within society, and whose will has become capable of managing its own life, protecting itself, and determining its destiny. These patriarchal powers fully understand that if women are strong and possess independent will, the government will not be able to impose itself on society. Therefore, they seek to destroy the force that protects women and reject it in all its forms and expressions of will. This is because the Women’s Protection Units are not merely a military force; through their military strength, they are also the force protecting the will of women and society.”

Layla Ilhan also referred to women’s historical struggle against ruling authorities, saying: “Like the Amazon warriors, who organized themselves against ruling systems through their awareness of communal life and contributed militarily to protecting society and its values, women became a driving force for collective life in Mesopotamia against the dominant mentality.”

Speaking about Kurdish women’s struggle, she added: “When we examine the history of Kurdistan and the struggle of Kurdish society, we see that many women have played roles in organizational, cultural, artistic, and military fields to defend their land and the values of their society. But for the first time, through the Kurdish liberation movement on this land thanks to the efforts of leader Abdullah Ocalan and thousands of martyrs Kurdish women attained their place as an independent force within military defense forces and assumed responsibility for protecting society. Without doubt, this female presence in defense has become a source of strength and morale for all women. Therefore, for us women, the Women’s Protection Units are not simply a women’s military force; they are the force safeguarding women’s existence and will.

Today, Kurdish women are leading the consciousness embodied in the slogan ‘Woman, Life, Freedom,’ and this awareness becomes the driving force behind the struggle of all women fighters. This strength has been gained through the Women’s Protection Units. They are the guarantee for protecting the achievements of the Rojava Revolution and for advancing women’s struggle for freedom.”

Layla Azro Ilhan stressed that excluding the Women’s Protection Units from Syria’s reconstruction would not solve any of the Syrian people’s problems, adding: “Rejecting these units means accepting the bloody and dark mentality of ISIS . Therefore, the campaign supporting the Women’s Protection Units is of utmost importance. All women must support this initiative and participate in the struggle to strengthen and implement it, because the presence of the Women’s Protection Units within the Syrian army would guarantee the protection of women’s existence, their will, and society as a whole.”

“YPJ will become a protective force for all women”

Expressing her support for the Women’s Protection Units, Layla Azro Ilhan concluded: “In the name of the women of Martyr Rustem Judi Camp in Makhmour, we consider the existence of the Women’s Protection Units an inseparable part of our lives.

We know very well that the Women’s Protection Units are not merely a protection force for the women of Rojava Kurdistan and Syria, but also a force protecting all women.

Therefore, we call on all women and society to join the struggle for the survival of the Women’s Protection Units. Without these units, Syria will not be able to liberate itself from the ISISا mentality, and it will not be safe for anyone.”

ANHA