Spanish internationalist Argala Erti spoke to ANF about his involvement in the Rojava Revolution and why he came to Rojava.

Erti (33) from Madrid said: “My idea of ​​Rojava was shaped 10 years ago by revolution, autonomy and self-administration. Rojava is an example of radical democracy. The revolution in Rojava was very appealing to me. I moved there and experienced it first-hand. Unfortunately, information on the Rojava Revolution is very limited in Madrid, my hometown. The closest political movements to the revolution are anarchism and the union I worked for, the CNT (Confederación Nacional del Trabajo / National Confederation of Workers), but currently the most detailed information about the revolution can be obtained in Catalonia.”

Rojava is a reference for many feminist groups

Argala Erti underlined that Rojava is a reference for many feminist groups, where not only women but also men take part. “It is true that gender equality is a reality here and women and men are currently taking charge in municipalities, cooperatives and schools. Many cooperatives are based on equal work and getting what you need during flexible working hours. This is inspiring for many countries in Europe where brutal capitalism is destroying our lives.”

Öcalan's ideas

Erti said: “Öcalan's ideology has been important in my life and in the movements where we seek to build autonomy, municipalism and environmentalism. Self-criticism, hard work and long reflections on my ideas, being quiet for a while and thinking about myself and the mistakes I've made... Also, pluralistic thinking about what I can do well and what I'm trying to improve for a better society. For me, Öcalan means non-surrender to the capitalist system.”