JINHA

KIRKUK – The Kakai women of Rizgarî village, in the Federal Kurdistan Region of Iraq, held their first ever celebration of March 8, International Women's Day. The women sent their greetings to the YPJ fighters resisting Daesh.

The women are members of the Kakai religious group (also known as Yarsan). Their village, inhabited by Kakai people, is near the historically Assyrian town of Daquq, near Kirkuk.

"Kurdish women have advanced to the point of being able to defend both themselves and the world," said Sirwa, a village resident and mother. "I believe that women will win."

"March 8 is a day of struggle. It's a very sacred day and all days need to be like March 8," said young village resident Leyla. She said it was time for women to win their rights.

Young villager Cale Omer said that for her, being a woman was "equivalent to being in struggle."

The women read poems and sang songs at the celebration in their village. They sent their greetings to YPJ fighters and cried the slogans "long live President Apo" (referring to imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan) and "jin, jiyan, azadî" (woman, life, freedom.)

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