Theatre highlights Women’s Protection Units’ journey from battlefield to stage

The “Hilal Zerin Movement for Women’s Culture” in Rojava launched a solidarity campaign in support of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) under the slogan “We are all YPJ, YPJ represents us,” through a series of cultural and artistic events aimed at highlighting the role and resistance of the units and calling for the protection of women’s rights and the recognition of the Women’s Protection Units in the new Syrian constitution.

The movement announced the campaign’s program on June 4, while activities began on the 10th of the same month. The events were held across Qamishli, Derik, Hasakah, and Derbassiyeh, and included musical concerts, theatrical performances, and photography exhibitions. The campaign saw wide participation from members of women’s organizations and movements in Rojava, in addition to civil society institutions and members of the Women’s Protection Units.

The theatrical performances were among the most prominent activities of the campaign, portraying the lives of YPJ fighters, their resistance against ISIS militants, and the achievements and gains women have made during the July 19 Revolution.

Writer and director Fatima Ahmed evaluated the performances, noting that they consisted of two plays: “The Spark and the Fire” (Ar û Pêt) and “Revenge of the Braid” (Kezî Tola). She explained that both works focus on Kurdish women’s resistance and the sacrifices they have made, as well as defending the achievements gained through their struggle.

Fatima added that “The Spark and the Fire” portrays the stories of Kurdish female fighters who sacrificed their lives in defense of their land, such as Arin and Barin. She emphasized that the aim of the work was to introduce the Women’s Protection Units through art and highlight their journey, resistance, sense of responsibility, and comradeship on the battlefield.

As for “Revenge of the Braid,” she said it was inspired by the women’s revolution in Rojava and the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement in East Kurdistan. It belongs to tragic theatre and conveys the message that Kurdish women struggle for freedom and a dignified life, not for war, but defend themselves when their rights and freedom are taken away.

On the message of the two plays, Fatima said the goal is to express artists’ support for the Women’s Protection Units and to shed light on their struggle through literature and theatre. She stressed that the units represent a large segment of Kurdish women working to preserve the gains achieved during the Rojava revolution, leading toward official constitutional recognition.

She added that choosing the Women’s Protection Units as the central theme of the plays is a tribute to their sacrifices, noting that artists “owe the Women’s Protection Units” and seek to convey the stories of their struggle through art. She also emphasized the importance of standing with them amid ongoing calls for recognition of their role as a women’s force.

Fatima concluded that art and theatre have a strong ability to convey social and political issues and influence public awareness, noting that art is a universal language that transcends borders and languages and can reach wide audiences that political or traditional media may not.

The campaign comes as part of a series of women’s initiatives supporting the Women’s Protection Units. On April 26, 2026, the Joint Activities Platform of women’s movements and organizations in Rojava launched the “We are all YPJ, YPJ represents us” campaign, which included various activities, alongside declarations of solidarity from women’s figures and movements across the Middle East and different regions of the world.

ANHA