Kobanê Canton Interior Minister Bozan Xelîl stated that the Rojava Revolution belonged to the people and the success of the revolution was becoming more permanent. Xelîl described Rojava Revolution, entering its 4th year, as a revolution of mentality and the only way for changing the centuries-long unfortunate history of Middle Eastern peoples.

Rojava Revolution began on July 19, 2011 and continues to be the only alternative for Syrian peoples as it transforms Rojava fundamentally. Kobanê Interior Minister Bozan Xelîl spoke to ANF on the anniversary of the revolution and emphasized the determining role of Kobanê resistance.

What was the impact of Rojava Revolution on the region?

Rojava Revolution is the product of a philosophy, labor, and the sacrifice of hundreds of martyrs. The July 19 Revolution had a great impact on Syria and the Middle East; it changed the course of war and politics. As the uprisings in Yemen, Tunisia, Egypt and the Middle East created upheaval, Rojava Revolution emerged as a 3rd path. This new path depended on the will and self-organization of the people and worked towards the satisfaction of people’s demands. Our revolution did not depend on the Baath regime or the National Syrian Coalition. It developed upon its own ideology and philosophy, and presented the options of a democratic Syria and peoples’ peaceful coexistence.

Lets make things a little more concrete now. What are the fundamental differences between Rojava Revolution and the uprisings known as ‘the Arab Spring’?

Rojava Revolution’s main difference is that it is a revolution of mentality led by its independent ideology. As sovereigns lost their power in Libya, Tunisia, Egypt and other countries, peoples’ demands were not satisfied. Forces of power and exploitation took advantage of peoples’ righteous uprisings and rose to power. Rojava Revolution, however, rejects the rule of one person and offers a new ideological stance based on peoples’ different beliefs and choices. One of its main differences is that it is a women’s revolution. For the first time, women are participating in and indeed leading a revolution with their own colors against patriarchy. If you look at the history of revolutions in the world, you see that the most fundamental reason behind the failures of revolutions is the view of women as a ‘reserve power’ that does not have its own identity. Ideologies viewing women in such a way inevitably transformed into counter-revolutionary and totalitarian regimes. Rojava Revolution takes its democratic essence from women’s leadership, will and participation in order to dismantle patriarchy. Women’s leadership, the sisterhood of peoples, and the equality of religious communities make our revolution more permanent.

Can you evaluate the impact of the revolution on the war in Syria?

The current war in Syria is a result of 15 years of planning that aimed to pit peoples and religious communities against one another. Rojava Revolution challenges this planning by overcoming nationalist and pro-state approaches and offering a path of people’s coexistence. Without the revolution, peoples and religious communities would be fighting one another in Rojava. The revolution had a significant impact on the war in Syria and frustrated powers’ plans to create conflict among peoples. With the revolution, Arab, Assyrian, Armenian and Turkmen people no longer tolerate war and massacres, and see the path of fair and equal coexistence in Syria.

Rojava enabled the construction of a democratic opposition and prevented the ISIS and regime takeover of the region.

Is your armed resistance the only cause of the revolution?

No. The revolution’s ideological and philosophical stance is based on the democratic mentality of peoples’ sisterhood and religious freedoms. Democratic forces of Syria began to get to know and understand our revolution. Political and military circles as well as peoples began to get interested in our revolution. Burkan El Fırat composed of Arab people’s representatives could be evaluated within this framework.

In its 4th year, Rojava Revolution began to embrace peoples and the forces of democracy. We are more understood and accepted as a system by peoples, which is an important success of the revolution.

How did Assyrian, Armenian, Arab, Turkmen, Êzîdî and Christian peoples react to the revolution?

Like all Middle Eastern peoples, people in Rojava have been under the rule of monist, oppressive and reactionary systems for centuries. Rojava Revolution is like a mirage in a desert for Middle Eastern peoples. Peoples of Rojava were initially hesitant due to anti-propaganda and centuries-long prejudices, but they participated in the revolution eagerly once they began to see our applications. Peoples understood that this was their revolution and they had to realize it themselves. They found the alternative they had been looking for with the arrival of Rojava Revolution. Peoples have the right to represent themselves in autonomous administrations, particularly in the Cizîrê Canton. Peoples see Rojava Revolution as their own revolution and have administrative control over their lives; YPG/YPJ merely protects the revolution.

What was the YPG/YPJ’s contribution to the introduction of the revolution to peoples with the resistance in Kobanê, and to the growth of the belief that the revolution would be protected under all possible conditions?

Revolution began in Kobanê and entered its success phase. Kobanê made the revolution more permanent and became the key to the solution of all problems in the Middle East. Peoples’ democratic victory became the symbol of the revolution and attracted Syrian peoples.

There is intensive anti-propaganda like the ones we saw during Girê Spî’s liberation. What is your call to peoples?

This revolution belongs to all of us, it proved that it was the revolution of oppressed people and peoples from different ethnic and religious backgrounds over the past 4 years. We call upon different peoples to participate in this revolution, which will change the unfortunate history of the Middle East and establish a democratic life in the region. We ask peoples to disregard the anti-propaganda that targets us and observe the gangs’ activities. Everyone saw how the revolution approached the peoples of Girê Spî after the liberation of the tow. We call upon all peoples to treat the revolution as their own and support it as much as they can. Peoples are governing Girê Spî now and they will be doing so in the future, YPG/YPJ is only responsible for security and defense. Rojava Revolution proved its success and democratic character in its 4th year.