JINHA

KOBANÊ – YPJ members Revana Kobanê and Lila Rojava, who traveled to Kobanê to join the resistance, spoke on the importance of Sakine Cansız’ life in inspiring their struggle.

As women continue to lead the ongoing resistance against Daesh in Kobanê, their struggle continues to give hope to women around the world. The struggle to resist against Daesh and build a new life has drawn people from around the world to visit or volunteer. Revana Kobanê from Sweden and Lila Rojava from Canada, two such women, spoke on the meaning of Sakine Cansız for them. Sakine Cansız was a founding member of the PKK and lifelong political figure for Kurdish women, murdered in the heart of Paris on January 9, 2013 along with Fidan Doğan and Leyla Şaylemez. The killers responsible have still not been fully investigated.

YPJ member Revana Kobanê from Sweden came to Kobanê, where she works in a hospital, for months ago. She said that Sakine Cansız’ fearless resistance has inspired her.

“Heval Sara was and is an inspiration to people all over the world,” said Revana, referring to Sakine Cansız. “This is one of the reasons I chose to come here to work at the hospital. I wanted to see what this was all about and learn from it. Heval Sara was a person with integrity who not only criticized society and the patriarchy, but also her own party. And I think this is something that she can teach us: that we must criticize ourselves and each other to move forward.

“Heval Sara seemed like a person I would like to meet. I never got the chance to do that,” said Revana. She urged the government of France to immediately find the killers.

“I also want to send a message to the people all over the world to come here, to join the YPJ. If you cannot come, organize in your city to spread information about what’s going on here. Just be a part of this struggle in the way that you can,” said Revana. “Democratic confederalism is not only a possibility, but a necessity so that we can find a way to live beyond the nation-state and the oppression that people are living in today.”

Lila Rojava came from Canada to join the YPJ, where she works to provide medical support. She said that Sakine Cansız’ uncompromising effort to change society was an example for women and girls all over the world.

“Her fighting spirit was like I’ve never seen in anyone before. It didn’t matter what stood in her way. She always stood up and fought and did what she thought was right, which was to promote rights for women around the world,” said Lila.

“As a woman and as a member of the YPJ, I want to urge the French government to reopen the investigation,” Lila said. “Every women’s group around the world should be demanding action to reopen this investigation into our martyrs.”

Lila said that it was time for the world, and especially women, to pay attention to what was happening in Rojava.

“People should look at Heval Sara and the women here in Rojava and Kurdistan and see what we’re trying to achieve for women not only here, but around the world,” said Lila. “I invite every women’s group and feminist group from around the world to come here, to take a look around and see what we’re doing here.”

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