Özgür Devrim/JINHA

BEHDINAN – In the mountain center of the Kurdish guerrilla struggle, guerrillas, like women around the world, are celebrating March 8, International Working Women's Day.

In spite of poor weather, the women began celebrations early in the morning without noticing the rain.Zaxo Zagros, of the KCK (Group of Communities in Kurdistan)'s main council, spoke at the gathering. Although the system only grudgingly recognized one day of the year dedicated to women, said Zaxo, women had paid a heavy price and many sacrifices to continue the struggle for every day of the year to be March 8. Thousands of women over the years had given their lives for the developments we see today, she said.

"The struggle Kurdish women have developed makes you very happy," she said. "After 40 years of struggle, we now have achieved the Rojava women's revolution and our movement continues to grow.

"As women, we get our revenge on the patriarchal system through our organization of a women's system," said Zaxo. "We get our revenge on an enslaved society by building a moral and political society."

The Women's Theater Group, composed of women from different identities, performed in costumes they have made themselves. The theatrical performance depicted women coming together from around the world to overcome their shared obstacles.

Koma Amara, a music group also composed of women fighters, played a new song dedicated to Kobanê, which drew cries in Kurdish of "long live the Kobanê resistance." A chorus performed local traditional songs and dengbêjstorytelling.

Women continued their celebration with traditional dances from Kurdistan and as far away as the Black Sea region.

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