Jînda Asmen/JINHA

SHENGAL – I am listening to two women from the YJA Star and YJŞ on Mount Shengal, two women are walking towards the resistance with the utopia of women all over the world by “reflecting freedom”.

On Mount Shengal; two women are walking with smile on their face. I don’t know if there are friends or sisters. I want to know them and I set up my camera and begin to shoot them. One of them is a member of the Free Women's Units (YJA-STAR) and another is a member of the Shengal Women Unite (YJŞ).

We move into deep conversation with these two women on Mount Shengal. Arjîn Botan, member of the YJA Star tells us how she is impressed by the Mount Shengal and the foundation of the YJŞ: “We came to Mount Shengal to help Ezidi people when ISIS attacked them on August 3. We experienced heavy war and clashes. The condition of the people was very bad. Many women, children, young people, old people died of hunger and thirst and were killed. Hundreds of Ezidi people wer abducted by ISIS. The people on mountain began to organize their lives in difficult condition again through a strong resistance. People, particularly women, were interested in the YJA Star and women wanted to form their self-defense forces. We shared our experiences with them. And thus, they formed their women’s unite as YJŞ. This formation makes us very happy.

“I mean the friendship of the YJŞ and YJA Star developed over sharing and continues to develop. We learned the companionship from our Leader and we make it stronger with Ezidi women. As YJA Star, our purpose is to create a stong companionship and friendship with all women over the world.”

After listing Arjîn, we talk to Sozdar Agir, member of the YJŞ. Sozdar said, “We figth in Shengal together as YJA Star and YJŞ. We make our struggle stronger over our companionship. For us, friendship means to be very close with each other. We believe we can make friendship with all people from all age. Women create the strongest friendships beacause women are isolated. Our companionship is based on love. As Ezidi women, we predicate the companionship upon everything.

“As Ezidi women, we began to organize ourselves as YJŞ after the YJA Star fighters came to Shengal. They teach us how to organize ourselves and fight.”

I asked them the reason of their beautiful smile. Sozdar answered my question my saying, “I think the beautiful smile reflects freedom, companionship and confidence of struggling together.”

(fk/gd)