YPJ: Kobani resistance embodies women's unity, strength

The General Command of the Women's Protection Units (YPJ) issued a statement on Sunday, published on the units' official website, marking World Kobani Day. The statement included:

"History bears witness not only to eras of darkness, but also to the resistance that breaks through that darkness. Kobani is not merely a city in humanity's memory; it is a frontline of resilience and honour, a battleground where life triumphed over death, and a stronghold of the Women's Protection Units' unique resistance.

During the years when waves of darkness swept across the world and mercenaries sought to destroy humanity, Kobani became the place where the star of freedom shone once again.

In its streets, marked by the blood of heroes, the will of free women demonstrated that no force of darkness could stand against the yearning for a free life. Just as Arin Mirkan turned the towers of this city into a beacon of light through her sacrifice, heroic commanders and comrades such as Gulhat, Diyar Bakok, Revan, Herdem, Destina Qandil, Viyan Peyman, Zahra and Ivana Hovmin became symbols of this struggle. Today, every woman in the Women's Protection Units follows in their sacred footsteps.

What made the Kobani resistance a unique epic was the unity and national consciousness of our people. During that historic period, Kobani became a symbol of national unity, not only through the heroism of its people, but also through the honourable stance and enthusiastic participation of young women and men from all four parts of Kurdistan, from Serhed to Botan, and from Garmian and Hewlêr to Mahabad and Sine. This was particularly evident in the support and uprising of the people of North Kurdistan, which lasted several days along the border. Thousands of fighters crossed the drawn borders and fought side by side with the Women's Protection Units (YPJ) fighters and the People's Protection Units (YPG) against the forces of darkness. This demonstrated that the heart of Kurdistan beats as one in Kobani.

At the same time, Kobani became the conscience of the world. On 1 November, when people around the world took to the streets, from Paris to Berlin, New York to Abya Yala, and Tokyo to Amed and Qamishlo, chanting 'We are all Kobani', they demonstrated that the resistance of Kobani was not solely the resistance of the Kurds, but that of all humanity that cherishes freedom. This global solidarity was the force that shattered the darkness of ISIS.

On 1 November, World Kobani Day, we, the Women's Protection Units (YPJ), reaffirm that the Kobani resistance was the foundation of our people's victory and proof of our free unity. These achievements have demonstrated that women are capable of organizing themselves in accordance with the philosophy of "Woman, Life, Freedom", and that our people, united around this vision across the four parts of Kurdistan, are capable of changing the course of an entire century.

In this spirit, we bow in reverence to the memory of all our heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives so that we could stand tall on this land today.

Our pledge to our martyrs and our people is that we will defend the path of resistance to the very end, uphold the achievements of this land, strengthen national unity, and make our homeland a beacon of light in the face of all darkness."