YPJ celebrates 12th anniversary of establishment

Under the slogan "Mobilizing Women is the Guarantee of a Free Life," the Women's Protection Units held a military parade and celebration marking their 12th anniversary and the birthday of Leader Abdullah Ocalan.

The event took place at the Sirdam Hall in Hasaka city, in the Jazera Canton, NE Syria, with the attendance of leaders and fighters from the Women's Protection Units and women's organizations in the city. The hall was decorated with images of leader Abdullah Öcalan, martyrs, and the flags of the Women's Protection Units.

"The Women's Protection Units represent the identity of all women"

The event began with a military parade by the Women's Protection Units and a minute of silence to honor the martyrs. Then, the leader from the Women's Protection Units, Newroz Ahmed, gave a speech congratulating Leader Abdullah Ocalan and all the fighters of the Women's Protection Units on this occasion. She said: "We are building our forces thanks to the ideas of Leader Abdullah Ocalan and the thoughts he has provided for women. For the first time in the world, especially in the Middle East, the Women's Protection Units have become an army and a women's force. The Women's Protection Units fought with their strength, resistance, and struggle against ISIS and defeated it. The resistance of the Women's Protection Units on the Qereqozaqê Bridge and the Tishrin Dam once again proves to the world that no force in the world can defeat the will of free women. They fight against the occupiers with all their strength and will. The Women's Protection Units have become the identity of all resistant and fighting women. We will achieve the physical freedom of the leader with this strength and struggle, and we will respond to the call for peace and the historical democratic society."

The celebration began with songs from the Martyr Hiva band of the Golden Crescent Movement from the Afrin Canton, followed by folk dances from the Martyr Arjin and Martyr Zilan troupes of the Women's Protection Units.

Many countries sent congratulations on the 12th anniversary of the Women's Protection Units' establishment and congratulated all women on this strength.

Singer Yasmin Askar performed a number of songs, and the celebration ended with traditional folk dances.

A-H

ANHA