The Democratic Union Party (PYD) is organizing a forum in Heseke under the title “19 July: Revolution of Women and Peoples, Guarantee of a Democratic Syria”.  

The forum discusses the development and strategy of the 19 July revolution, women’s leadership in the revolution, alliance of peoples and ways to find a solution to the Syrian crisis.

150 people including representatives of political parties and the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) are attending the forum, where PYD Organization Office Co-Chair Perwîn Yûsif delivered the opening speech and provided information about the objectives of the forum.

Speaking after, PYD Euphrates Region Organization Office Co-Chair Firatê Ehmed Xoce said: “The 19 July Revolution, the spark of which was lit by the Kurdish people in Kobanê, has enlightened the path of our people and all the peoples of the Middle East. The revolution provided the people with belief, freedom and commitment to democracy. The PYD has played a leading role in the revolution and organized women and young people, the main pillars of the revolution. The 19 July Revolution is based on the Democratic Nation paradigm.”

PYD Co-Chair Salih Muslim stated: “The 19 July Revolution of peoples takes the 3rd line as its basis. We started the revolution in Kobanê. The change and transformation taking place for the past 11 years is a revolution in itself. We have defended all circles of society, women in the first place, from the attacks of the ruling and hegemonic powers, astonishing everyone with our great revolution and resistance against attacks. We have managed to protect our gains through the invaluable sacrifices of thousands of martyrs. It is thanks to the fraternity of peoples that the blood of all peoples intermingled during the revolution.”

Muslim continued: “We must understand well why 11,000 martyrs sacrificed their lives, why our young men and women are still fighting on the frontlines, and are ready to sacrifice their lives to protect the gains of the revolution. Everyone should follow in the footsteps of the martyrs.”

Speaking after, AANES Deputy Co-Chair Hemdan El Ebid congratulated all pro-freedom peoples on the 19 July Revolution and remembered the martyrs of 14 July, which marks the anniversary of the beginning of the death fast in the prison of Amed (Diyarbakır). The hunger strike in 1982, in which Mehmet Hayri Durmuş, Kemal Pir, Akif Yılmaz and Ali Çiçek gave their lives, went down in history as "the great death fast of July 14" and was a decisive action against the burial silence after the 1980 military coup in Turkey.

Referring to the previous revolutions that ended up in failure, El Ebid said the reason for this failure was the lack of a primary objective. He remarked that the 19 July revolution differed from other revolutions in history by being the common revolution of all peoples. “We are very happy to adopt the philosophy of the fraternity of peoples and a common life. Staying outside of the government and opposition line, we have united on the line of the 3rd way.”

Sarya Efrîn, a commander of the Women’s Defense Units (YPJ), congratulated Abdullah Öcalan, all the heroes and brave fighters on the 19 July Revolution, which, she said, was achieved thanks to the labour and resistance of leader Öcalan.

Speaking about the state of possibilities during the beginning of the revolution, Sarya Efrîn said: “Since the first sparks of the revolution in Rojava, our people have fought with limited means. Our people, young and old alike, have proven their capability to rise and stand up against the invading Turkish state and mercenaries, as well as all hegemonic powers. This revolution has served as a model for all peoples. It gained recognition for women’s struggle and love for revolutionism. The YPJ, which was first formed in very few numbers, has become an army and liberated many areas from occupation. We need to strengthen our self-defense mechanism to secure the gains of the revolution, to ensure the leader’s presence among us and to realize the dreams of our martyrs.”