The Kurdistan Free Society Movement (Tevgera Azadî) held its founding congress yesterday in Suleymaniye after being officialized in Iraq. 700 delegates and hundreds of citizens from various areas of Southern Kurdistan and Iraq participated in the congress which stood out with the level of participation by women and young people. The representation of women and the youth in party administration was the talk of the day, while the youth and women participating in the congress stated that they experience the issues present in society in an amplified way, and that they see Tevgera Azadî as the place for solutions to these issues.

“WOMEN ARE NOT JUST PARTICIPANTS”

The young woman named Soma Ferhad said the youth weren’t just participants in the congress but they also took part in the administrative and decision making mechanisms: “There is high participation by the youth and women to the congress. We can say that there is a lot of people from almost all provinces and districts, and the participation isn’t just at the base level. The youth and women take on important duties in the congress and are represented with a high percentage in the administration.”

AN ALTERNATIVE AND A HOPE

Soma Ferhad said the youth and women are battling great issues in Southern Kurdistan and added that the interest in Tevgera Azadî is the sign of a search: “Our party’s congress with such high participation and enthusiasm is a response to the issues present in the region. At the same time, it is a search for a solution. Especially at a time when political parties in Southern Kurdistan experience such crises and are the main reason for the current issues, Tevgera Azadî comes as an alternative and a hope.”

“WOMEN AND THE YOUTH TURN TO TEVGERA AZADΔ

The young woman named Qeywan Merûf said the reason for this high participation by women and the youth is due to the party’s program and stated that it is the first time that a political party in Southern Kurdistan holds a congress with such high participation by women and the youth. Qeywan Merûf said: “Society in general are battling great issues in Southern Kurdistan, but the women and the youth experience these issues in an amplified way. These two classes are searching for a solution to the issues, and Tevgera Azadî’s program allows for that. That is why women and the youth turn to Tevgera Azadî. This is something that gives us joy.”

“OUR MARCH WILL BRING SUCCESS”

“Looking at the last 26 years of Southern Kurdistan, we can see very clearly what picture the program of parties in power paints,” said Qeywan Merûf and continued: “These parties focused solely on their own interests. They did nothing but force their rule over society. But there is a great portion of society who tie their hopes to Tevgera Azadî. We believe this hope won’t be in vain. We started with the oppressed classes and groups in society. I have no doubt that this march of ours will bring success.”

“NEED A NEW APPROACH”

The young man named Saman Qabîl stated that the old approaches can’t solve the issues in the region and that they are in need of a new approach: “There is great participation from the Kurdistan region and many areas of Iraq. Tevgera Azadî has been working for years, but this is the first time it is official. We are holding our congress on this principle. There are great issues waiting to be resolved in our region. The ones responsible for them are the parties that have held on to power for years. The solution to these issues won’t come through old methods. We need a new program for thi. And we have the program to generate deep rooted solution to these issues.”