Rohlat Afrin: protection is mandatory where there is no equality, democracy or freedom

YPJ General Command Member Rohlat Afrin spoke to ANHA about the role of YPJ in the new Syria, women's participation in the future of Syria, the conference held in Damascus, YPJ's participation in the Syrian army, and YPJ leadership's position on the current situation in Syria. 

Rohlat Afrin pointed out that many developments have taken place in Syria in the past two months, and with the collapse of the Ba'ath regime, the current crisis has become more complicated.

"YPJ has become the voice of liberation for all women in the world"

Commander Rohlat Afrin explained that YPJ has created many valuable values in 13 years of confronting the mentality of power, and has a high level of struggle in the field of defense and organization. She said: "The achievements of YPJ have become the property of all women in North and East Syria and the world, and have become a global model for all women and people who can become part of defense sciences. Everyone gathers around the struggle of YPJ. YPJ has stood up to a dark force that adopts the mentality of genocide, destruction and aggression such as ISIS, and has shown a courageous and strong stance without hesitation. YPJ is the avenger of the history of women that has been distorted and enslaved. At the same time, in the face of the lost voices of women, YPJ has become the voice of salvation, freedom, recognition and self-search for all women in the world."

"YPJ will continue to defend its system against the forces of power"

Rohlat Afrin pointed out that they left behind difficult years with the collapse of the Ba'ath regime, and if there are no rights, equality, democracy and freedom, YPJ will continue its position in serving the people and women, and will also confront the Damascus authority at the same level. She said: "We come from a historical legacy and the culture of the goddess - woman. From 2025 onwards, in the face of the mentality, methodology and methods that are being promoted, YPJ will be able to protect its system, build it, and put it back at the service of all women in Syria and the world."

In her speech, Rohlat Afrin rejected the approach of the Damascus regime towards women, and explained that this regime imposes a single system on the entire society, and this system is applied in particular to women, and added: “In the new Syria, there are many changes and undefined transformations. In the past, there was a specific system; many policies were applied to society, to women’s voices, which prevented them from fully participating in their rights, their existence, their voices, and their will. The Women’s Protection Units did not organize themselves only for a specific period or to confront some attacks. From the outside as well, we see that many women’s voices consider the Women’s Protection Units as a hope and salvation. Therefore, we will continue this struggle. The Women’s Protection Units will not only be for North and East Syria, but will once again take on the responsibility of defending all women in Syria and the world in its own model of defense, organization, and struggle. An example of this is now evident in the Tishreen Dam. We are confident that the Women’s Protection Units will be able in the new system, in the new Syria, to take on the responsibility of defense and build a pioneering leadership.”

“From the conference it became clear that they are far from democracy”

Rohlat Afrin explained that with the return of power to Damascus, they once again want to use the country’s communities to serve their interests, and said: “Of course, these are policies aimed at annihilating and denying the voices of communities. If a policy based on equality, democracy and all the freedoms of the peoples is accepted, where everyone participates with their voices and cultures in the system, and the role and leadership of women is seen according to a fair constitution that includes all components and languages, then this system can continue. But at the conference held in Damascus, it became clear that there is an imposition of a single system and authority from above. The annihilation of the values of society and women’s leadership is not only dangerous, but it eradicates the existence and value of society. The opinions and will of all components are not taken into account, and they are not given a place. That is, there is no system in the world that can determine the president of the republic through groups or meetings. By appointing a president of the republic, it becomes clear that this system is far from the ideas of democracy. Nothing is seen that serves the people and women. This society should have been in a state of joy, enthusiasm and confidence, but now when we look at Syrian society, there is neither enthusiasm nor trust in the new system. If we as women say that we do not accept this either, our refusal will be accompanied by many reasons that we can give, because we cannot deny 13 years of struggle, the values that have grown in this land, and the system that has been built. We cannot accept everything from the new authority.”

“It is clear that we will face a very difficult struggle"

Rohlat Afrin saw that the Damascus authority is setting a very narrow framework for women, and said: “In order to show itself as democratic, al-Julani held a meeting with women, as if to say to all women and society that there are rights for women and to strengthen women’s leadership, but in the face of this regime, this policy that is being strengthened must be seen as dangerous in all areas. If the authority grows on the basis of the culture of al-Qaeda, it cannot give confidence to women. Many laws have been issued that aim to deceive public opinion and women. We see that many laws are being determined so that women will not have a place in the forefront, but on the contrary, their place will be in the back. In this new regime, women will not be given a place, and the clearest example of this is the conference held in Damascus. Everyone must see this policy. A conference without women means that their voices, their will and their presence are absent, and this means that there is an attack on women’s culture. It is clear that we will face a very difficult struggle.”

 “At this stage, we do not put disarmament on our agenda”

“In places where there is no equality, democracy or freedom, it is not possible to disarm or abandon defense,” said Rohlat Afrin. “If the security of society and all women is ensured according to defense standards, there will be no need for an army. But now we are at a stage where every day the bodies of 10 martyrs are carried on the shoulders of our people, every day attacks are made on our land and our people. Every day great pressure is imposed on our society. In such circumstances, we cannot yet consider the issue of whether or not to put weapons aside on our agenda.”

“People and women should know that they are facing a dangerous regime” Rohlat Afrin said that the regime in Syria did not change on its own, but that there were many external hands involved, especially the Erdogan regime, which played a role in changing this regime. She said: “This new authority in Damascus does not want democracy, solutions and progress to be achieved, and one of the reasons for this is Erdogan and his regime. The public opinion and all women should know that they are facing a dangerous regime. If this authority does not change itself, and if it does not guarantee the rights of the communities and all components of Syria, it will collapse.”

 “In the face of denial, women must organize”

Commander Rohlat Afrin called on all people and women to organize against all the mentalities that practice genocide and denial, and to ensure their own protection, concluding her speech by saying: “If we do not organize, not only women, but everyone will be condemned to slavery. Those who can stand up to this system are women, as it appears that all those who resist are women. Only in this way can we protect our achievements, our values, and the leadership that lies with all women.”

T/Satt.

ANHA