The RiseUp4Rojava and Defend Kurdistan campaigns called for nationwide actions to defend Rojava. In addition, the Kurdish Women's Movement in Europe (TJK-E) proclaimed Saturday a Europe-wide day of action.

In Leipzig, internationalists from various groups such as the feminist organizations Gemeinsam Kämpfen, Junge Frauen Kommune and Zora took to the streets together with activists from the local groups of Women Defend Rojava and Defend Kurdistan as well as parts of the Kurdish community in Leipzig, many of whom come from northern and eastern Syria themselves.

Attacks on an alternative model of life

In various speeches, assessments of the current situation in Syria were shared. KON-MED, the Confederation of Kurdistan Communities in Germany, focused in its statement on the role played by the so-called "Syrian National Army" (SNA) and Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS). The SNA's attacks on the Democratic Autonomous Administration (DAANES) were condemned. "They are not a "rebel group" - said activists - but a jihadist alliance controlled by Turkey. The current attacks are aimed at weakening a multi-ethnic way of life that is based on women's liberation, ecology and democracy. This is a problem for Turkey, which shares a border with DAANES, because the paradigm there calls into question its own undemocratic practices, which justifies the renewed attacks by Turkey."

War within a war: attacks on women

The local group Women Defend Rojava (WDR) also addressed the achievements of democratic confederalism in northeastern Syria, which is currently under attack.

Activists said: "The Rojava revolution, which is a women's revolution with a system in which women organize themselves autonomously in every area of ​​society, build economic cooperatives and have a dual leadership of a man and a woman in every area, puts every western liberal feminist system in the shade."

The activists also emphasized that this system is being attacked by Islamist forces precisely for this reason and what a "huge difference" it makes, especially for women who have previously lived in democratic self-government, as in the city of Manbij, to be attacked by Islamist groups. The feminist group Zora also pointed out that the humiliation, rape, abduction and killing of women in all wars currently taking place, be it in Kurdistan, Palestine or Sudan, is not just a minor part, but an integral, strategic part of the war against society.

Connections to Germany

The situation in the Middle East and especially in Kurdistan and the self-governing areas in Northern and Eastern Syria is also connected to Germany in various ways, said the activists.

The Internationalist Youth Commune particularly addressed the role of Germany as part of NATO and an important ally of Turkey.