On 2 March 2026, Iraqi women’s rights activist Yanar Mohammed was assassinated outside her home in Baghdad. This is not an isolated incident. Time and again, women who play a leading role in society are targeted and murdered. Examples include Rosa Luxemburg, Nagihan Arkasel, Jiyan Tolhildan, Sakine Canzis and Berta Caceres, who represent thousands of women. These are not attacks against individual women, but rather attacks against the goals of freedom, equality and the vision that another world is possible. A vision and a struggle that is particularly significant in these days, when the attempt to create a new Middle East is no less important.   Yanar Mohammed, who was born in Baghdad in 1960 and lived in Toronto for several years, was an architect, human rights activist and one of Iraq’s most prominent feminist voices. She was a co-founder of the Organisation Women’s Freedom in Iraq (OWFI) and campaigned for democracy, women’s rights and social justice for many years. She was particularly committed to helping women who were victims of violence, forced marriage and human trafficking. With her help, shelters were set up where hundreds of women found refuge. Despite repeated threats and public incitement, she continued her work unabated. We remember her and we know that her path will be continued by thousands. The spirit and struggle of free women cannot be killed.

Statement of the General Command of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) In light of the recent developments in Syria particularly following Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham’s (HTS) seizure of power and the overthrow of the Ba’athist Syrian regime we observe that the conflict in Syria has deepened, descending further into widespread chaos. This jihadist regime and its extremist ideology have perpetrated massacres and acts of genocide against our people in the Syrian coastal regions. Today, we witness this same oppressive force launching brutal assaults against our Druze community with equal ferocity. Yet, our Druze people represent an ancient and honorable community, just like all the other components of Syrian society, and they have long struggled for their freedom and independence. HTS, with its authoritarian and oppressive mentality, seeks to subjugate the deeply rooted peoples of this land, such as the Alawites and Druze, deliberately sowing sectarian conflict and fueling tensions among the diverse communities of the region. By doing so, they aim to exploit these divisions in pursuit of their notorious strategy of “divide and rule.” Recent events have further exposed the grave danger posed by this jihadist ideology not only to the peoples of Syria but to women in particular. A regime that rejects the rich diversity of peoples and faiths can never be a model for governance in Syria. Historically, Syria has been a homeland where diverse communities have coexisted on the same land. This diversity must never be a pretext for genocide or persecution; rather, it should be a wellspring for freedom of thought, expression, and coexistence. In truth, Syria has endured the unspeakable horrors of a prolonged and bloody war. The peoples of this region are exhausted by this destruction and yearn to live freely and with dignity on their own land. However, the jihadist mentality categorically rejects Syria’s social mosaic, thus obstructing any path toward rebuilding a democratic, pluralistic Syria. Moreover, democracy cannot take root in a system dominated by patriarchal and authoritarian rule. The model capable of leading Syria into a just and peaceful future is the Democratic Nation model whose achievements can already be witnessed in the reality of North and East Syria (Rojava), where all communities have been able to express their identities and live freely in harmony and mutual respect. As the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), we categorically condemn these terrorist crimes committed against our Druze and Alawite peoples, who are an integral part of Syria’s social fabric. We stand firmly against all forms of systematic terrorist aggression that target human values and threaten the unity of Syrian society. We believe that self-defense is the primary and indispensable guarantee for building a free and democratic society. We affirm that only women possess the vision and strength to lead Syria through this critical juncture, steering the region toward stability and security. At the same time, we can construct a future Syria that is democratic and secure, guided by the ethical and aesthetic consciousness of womena consciousness that stands in direct opposition to the dominant, violent, patriarchal mentality. On this basis, we call upon all peoples especially women to embrace the principle of self-defense as a means to protect their rights and the rights of all communities, for self-defense is a natural and legitimate right for every people. Women across the region and around the world must shoulder their historic responsibility to their peoples, and together, we must escalate our struggle to strengthen unity and organization. Once again, we reaffirm our commitment to building a free and dignified life through collective struggle and shared consciousness. We declare that the only viable solution for Syria lies in establishing a participatory society shaped by the organized will and leadership of women. In response to the massacres committed against our Syrian people, our greatest act of resistance will be to embrace the mission of legitimate self-defense with conscious, organized resolve and to realize a democratic Syria that welcomes all peoples and women in peace, dignity, and freedom. General Command of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) 04.05.2025

In Syria, after the fall of the Ba’ath regime, which failed to respond to any social demands, the crisis persists, and the fate of women and peoples continues to face grave dangers and suffering. At this historical juncture the world is experiencing, especially in the Middle East, if the intensive and long-term negotiations for the country’s reconstruction are not handled with the utmost sensitivity, they will lose their credibility and legitimacy. In this context, while it is highly suspicious that the fate of an entire region is being determined solely by armed groups behind closed doors in Damascus on January 29, it is even more alarming that Hatim Abu Shaqra, the leader of the Ahrar al-Sharqiya group—which assassinated Future Syria Party leader Hevrin Khalaf in 2019—has joined this dubious conference. Furthermore, his appointment by the Damascus authority is a blatant disregard for the Kurdish women’s struggle, which is recognized worldwide without question. Even worse, this signals that there is no place for women in the “new Syria” that is being shaped. No conference or decision can be legitimate if women and the people are not included in it. As the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), we do not recognize the legitimacy of this conference or its resolutions. For 14 years, we have waged a historic resistance as freedom fighters—women and men—within the ranks of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the People’s Protection Units (YPG), under the leadership of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), against ISIS, which the Justice and Development Party (AKP) calls “righteous sons” and actively supports. We fight not only to protect our people but also to defend humanity from the attacks and massacres that have taken place in numerous cities across Europe and, most recently, in the United States. We have battled ISIS and the mercenaries backed by Turkey for many years, and the entire world has witnessed this. Therefore, we cannot be expected to accept the jihadist ideology and its representatives, who seek to establish a state and revive old jihadists disguised in a new form. Today, they continue their assaults on the peoples of North and East Syria. Some may attempt to refine their image with a suit and tie, but this does not mean we will overlook the truth about these murderers—those who have spilled the blood of thousands, committed massacres, beheaded people, and gone so far as to mutilate the bodies of women with utter brutality. These killers must be prosecuted immediately and subjected to the punishment they deserve. Additionally, the fascist leader of the Justice and Development Party, Erdoğan, who has nurtured, exploited, and deployed them, must be brought before the International Criminal Court. This is a moral duty that falls upon every individual and every institution that upholds humanity and democracy, especially all the women of the world. The systematic killing of women marked the beginning of societal collapse in this region. Therefore, the new Syria will rise at the hands of women fighting for freedom, not at the hands of those who murder them. JIN JIYAN AZADÎ General Command of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) 02.02.2025

The struggle of the people of northern and eastern Syria against the darkness and oppression of this era has revived the faith of nations once again. Kobani, with its historic resistance, has become became a symbol of the human quest for freedom. The truth revealed in Kobani was the truth of a resilient and honorable people. Meanwhile, the system of capitalist modernity attacked society with utmost brutality under the guise of ISIS, as ISIS is a product of capitalist powers. With its oppression and savagery, it became a calamity for the people. No power was able to defend the light in the face of darkness. However, our forces and our people confronted ISIS mercenaries with great courage and managed to defeat them. In 2014, ISIS laid siege to Kobani with the support of external forces, especially the Turkish occupying state, and brought about atrocities unheard of. ISIS left behind unforgettable tragedies and pain on soil, carrying out a acts of genocide against our peoples. But the will of our people was stronger than ISIS, and the will of women in their struggle for freedom led them to victory. In Kobani, women fighters waged a tremendous resistance without seeking support from any external forces. These fighters, determined despite limited resources, risked their precious lives in order to defend their people. As the world witnessed the truth of our fighters and our people, they rallied around this resistance. Kobani’s resistance created a spirit of solidarity among people and a turning point for freedom seekers to defend humanity against darkness. As revolutionary women, we organized ourselves under the banner of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), which continue to grow stronger, writing heroic epics in the fight against ISIS. In every corner of Kobani, we wrote legends of our resistance. Each time ISIS attacked, it faced the great resistance of revolutionary women. Women’s leadership in the Kobani resistance changed the world’s perception of women and overturned all previously held notions about them. The steadfastness of women freedom fighters such as heroines like Rêvan Rojava, Arîn Mîrkan, Zehra Penaber, and Viyan Peyman, who sacrificed their lives for the struggle for freedom, provided an exemplary model of courage and sacrifice, and defined the standards of women’s liberation. Today as well, the fighters of the Women’s Protection Units, with the same spirit of Kobani’s resistance, continue to stand in the trenches at Tishrin Dam and Qaraqozak Bridge against the same dark forces, refusing to allow any oppressive power to occupy even a part of their homeland. The resistance of our people and the protection units has created a culture of perseverance and determination to achieve victory, no matter the circumstances. Today this reality is seen as Tishrin dam, were the people of North-East Syria continue their struggle alongside their fighters to safeguard their achievements and regardless of what happens, the people’s determination for their freedom will persist. The women’s revolution is a truth solidified through the participation of all the peoples of northern and eastern Syria in embodying the paradigm of a democratic and ecological nation and demanding women’s freedom. We, as the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), reaffirm our commitment to our struggle for freedom and democracy. The spirit of Kobani’s resistance is our truth and the truth of our people. With the spirit of Kobani’s victorious resistance, we will confront all barbaric occupational attacks. On the occasion of the anniversary of Kobani’s liberation, we remember with gratitude all the martyrs who gave their lives in this great resistance, starting with the martyrs Arîn, Rêvan, Viyan, Mîdîa, and Zehra. We pay tribute and salute the resistance of our people and all revolutionaries striving for freedom. We walk in the footsteps of our martyrs and are determined to continue the struggle for freedom until the last breath. General Command of the Women’s Protection Units 25.01.2025

To our people and public opinion: Certain jihadist groups, affiliated with the Turkish occupation and entities like Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), orchestrated and supported by international powers, entered Damascus unchallenged. The 61-year-old Ba’ath regime collapsed within a mere 12 days. This swift downfall can be attributed to the regime’s rigid adherence to the status quo and its failure to address fundamental issues, particularly the Kurdish case. Had the Assad administration pursued a path of democratization, this would not have emerged today. The apparent victory of the jihadists, as they advance towards Damascus, is likely to be short-lived. The new Syria that emerges from this ideology risks becoming another Afghanistan. Syria, throughout history, has been a home to diverse ethnic and religious communities. We observe with astonishment how certain groups, who do not know the meaning of the Sharia, embracing this radical ideology, disregarding the complexities of Syrian society and the potential for widespread violence. The Turkish state bears primary responsibility for the 13-year conflict endured by the Syrian people. Over this period, Turkish state and its mercenaries have repeatedly attacked the regions of north and eastern Syria. The current attack on these regions, which were established on the principles of women’s freedom, is being carried out by ISIS-linked groups under the guise of the so-called “national army.” Led by the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), our forces liberated these areas from the scourge of ISIS, transforming the region into an oasis of hope and stability where diverse ethnic and ideological communities coexist peacefully. However, our region remains a target for Turkish occupation and its mercenaries. These territories, defended under the leadership of the Women’s Protection Units, the Women’s Army, and the Syrian Democratic Forces, now face renewed threats from ISIS and the Republic of Turkey. The Kurds, Arab, Druze, Armenian, and Assyrian-Syriac peoples, who fought alongside us against ISIS and the Turkish Republic, are now at significant risk. These diverse groups, integral components of the Autonomous Administration, are being targeted by Turkish intelligence, which wants to reach some tribes and try to stir up strife and incite peoples against each other, particularly in the regions of Raqqa, Tabqa, and Deir Ezzor. As the Women’s Protection Units, we urge our entire society, especially Arab women, to resist these provocations and avoid being drawn into these destructive schemes. In addition to these dangerous attacks, Turkish intelligence, MIT, is plotting to attack Al-Hol camp and prisons under our control, where ISIS detainees are held captive. The release of some ISIS members from prisons vacated by the HTS has heightened the threat of ISIS resurgence in our region. The risk of Syria falling under the control of ISIS or ISIS-aligned groups is significantly elevated. Today, ISIS seeks to legitimize itself under different names as a project of the occupying Turkish Republic. This strategy aims to entrust the fate of the region to the world’s most reactionary forces. However, as a beacon of hope for the people of the region and humanity, Rojava will continue its resolute resistance, led by the YPJ, escalating the struggle for women and peoples. We face a historic responsibility on all fronts. The ultimate goal of the attacks launched by the Turkish Republic and its Syrian National Army (SNA), essentially ISIS gangs, against Tal Rifa’at, Manbij, and now Kobani, is the occupation and annexation of the entirety of Rojava. We therefore call upon the world’s peoples and women to raise their voices and fulfill their responsibility to counter these terrorist attacks, which threaten all of humanity. Today, the YPJ is resisting attacks by ISIS mercenaries, directly affiliated with the Turkish state, across all regions. We will continue this resistance until the end. While global powers commend the YPJ’s resistance, today, more than praise, there is a pressing need to expand the ranks of resistance globally and escalate the struggle everywhere to halt the attacks of the fascist Turkish Republic and hold it accountable. YPJ General Command December 15, 2024