The people in North-East Syria stated that Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan laid the groundwork for the Rojava Revolution during his stay in Syria between 1979-1999 and that the Freedom Movement has spread all over the world following the Rojava Revolution.

Fatma Hesen El-Casım's son, Martyr Feysel El-Cerbu, was martyred during the liberation of Shaddadi and her husband, Martyr Dear El-Cerbu, was martyred in Til Berak.

Fatma Hesen El-Casım, who now lives in Damascus, settled in Qamishlo after a while and heard that the Apoist (Öcalan) Movement was defending the people and their lands.

The woman stated that her son and husband were inspired by Öcalan and joined the Apoist Movement, adding that she became involved in the PYD (Democratic Union Party) activities after their martyrdom.

“After joining the PYD, I concluded that the Apoist Movement promotes the fraternity of peoples and the Democratic Nation project. We had no dialogue with the Kurdish people before the civil war. The peoples fought shoulder to shoulder to defend their lands,” she said.

Fatma Hesen El-Casım noted that she learned much from Öcalan's philosophy. “Öcalan encouraged us to achieve women's freedom and will. Hence, no matter how hard the Turkish state tries, it can no longer break the relations between the peoples.”

'THANKS TO ÖCALAN'

“As an Arab woman, I understood what freedom means after I got to know Öcalan's ideas. Currently, I am holding an official office within the political structure. Women take part in every field of society, including military, economic or cultural, thanks to Öcalan. Men and women live under equal conditions in North-East Syria thanks to Öcalan's paradigm.”

MARTYRDOM OF HIS SON LED HIM TO SUPPORT THE FREEDOM MOVEMENT

Two sons of Syriac citizen Yakup Davut, who became acquainted with the Freedom Movement following the Rojava Revolution, joined the Syriac Military Council. His son Gabi Davut was martyred in Raqqa in 2017. “After my son Gabi was martyred, I got involved in the activities of the Xerbi Assembly. After the Rojava Revolution, unity was established among the Kurdish, Arab and Syriac people. In the past, our Syriac children fell as martyrs in the mountains. Before the revolution, we had good relations with the Kurdish people over many issues, our neighbourly relations were strong. Most of the Kurdish and Arab people in our village can speak Syriac.”

THIS IS OUR REVOLUTION, TOO

“If the Rojava Revolution had not taken place, the Syriac people would have disappeared. ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra would have massacred the Syriac people. With the revolution, the differences between the Kurdish, Arab and Syriac peoples have disappeared. Peoples live under equal conditions. After the revolution, the Syriac people organized their own commune and council work. We had the opportunity to organize like other peoples, according to the needs of the Syriac people. This is our revolution, too,” Davut said.

PKK EMBRACES NATIONS

Kadriye Abdulkadir, who got to know the Freedom Movement in 1985, is a Kurdish woman. She read Abdullah Öcalan's books provided by PKK members who visited her house. “The PKK is a humanistic and democratic party. It embraces all nations,” she said.

Abdulkadir was at her home in Qudirbeg when Öcalan was taken prisoner. “A hunger strike was launched in Antariya Neighbourhood. I decided to join the hunger strike, but my friends did not agree. I had just given birth and I had to breastfeed my child. I nevertheless joined the hunger strike for 7 days. There were about 60 people. We were staying together in one room. There was a sad atmosphere, yet we kept each other going. We had thousands of visitors,” she said.

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF MARTYRS LEVENT AND SERHED

Abdulkadir met martyrs Levent and Serhed in 2011 following the Rojava Revolution. “Comrades Levent and Serhed would come to our house. My son was inspired by them. When both friends were martyred, my son Muhenned decided to join the Freedom Movement.”

EVERYONE GOT TO KNOW HIMSELF

Armenian citizen Arev Kasabian said that genuine freedom has been realized with the Freedom Movement and the Rojava Revolution. “Everyone got to know himself and learned how to protect rights. When Öcalan was in Syria, all activities were carried out in secret, the pressure of the regime was too much. People overcame their fears with the Revolution, which gave strength to them. The Revolution is Öcalan's revolution and idea. The Armenian people consider themselves as part of the Democratic Nation project. Öcalan's philosophy is fundamental to us,” Kasabian added.