JINHA

NEWS CENTER – Women's organizations, led by the Congress of Free Women (KJA), have announced a range of action plans for March 8, International Working Women's Day in Kızıltepe, Edremit, Siirt, Batman and Çınar.

In Edremit, in the province of Van, March 8 activities have been ongoing since February 25 with a series of film screenings led by the KJA. At the most recent film screening, the film "Turtles Can Fly" was shown. Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Edremit Municipal Council member MehtapDinçer spoke on the history of March 8. Edremit municipal employee RukenAcar read the poem "Ezjinim" ("I am a woman") by Kurdish poet ŞêrkoBêkes.

The Nuda Women's Information building in Kızıltepe hosted the unveiling of the KJA's March 8 plans for the area. Co-mayor Leyla Salman, DBP co-chair Nadya Kaya and a range of other activists and civic organization members attended. Activities will begin in Kızıltepe on March 3 and 4, with noon musical performances, and continue on March 5, with an 11 a.m. march and rally from the bus garage to Özgürlük Square.

In Sêrt (Turkish name Siirt), the municipal Berfin Women's Information Center announced the plans with the attendance of Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), DBP, Peace Mothers Congress, NGO and municipal workers and the women's organizations of unions. The plan of events for the area will start on March 1, with a range of events—from film screenings to panels to street theatre to visits to the camps of Shengal refugees—continuing every day. Events will end with a rally from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Cumhuriyet Square in the city center.

Êlih (Batman) women will hold a massive rally on March 2. Women gathered recently at the post office to send March 8 cards to women prisoners. The group also visited the family of AhmetTekin (code name BaranArgeş), who died fighting Daesh gang members in Shengal. MeyaserAkdağ, a member of the Peace Mothers Congress, gave her condolences on behalf of all mothers, saying, "Our eyes have dried up from crying, but we are still proud. Our heads are high."

In Çınar, near Amed (Diyarbakır), the KJA met in the municipal Jinwar Women's Center Park with the attendance of local co-mayor RukiyeEryılmaz. Sociologist Ümran Nar spoke on the history of March 8 and the importance of the formation of the YPJ in Rojava as women's self-defense against Daesh gangs. Women will have a "Women's Celebration" at 11 a.m. on March 5 at the DBP regional building. They will send representatives to Nusaybin for the World March of Women March 6-7 and then travel to the March 8 rally in Diyarbakır.

(şö-za/fk/cm)