The General Command of People’s Defense Units (YPG) released a statement marking the 11th anniversary of the Rojava Revolution which began 11 years ago today, on 19 July 2012, when three predominantly Kurdish-inhabited areas of Syria declared their autonomy from the central government.

The statement released by YPG General Command on Wednesday includes the following:

“Without a doubt, the Rojava Revolution was one of the major developments experienced in the world in the 21st century. Just like the October Revolution in Russia influenced the entire world in the early 20th century, the Rojava Revolution in the early 21st century had an influence first on the region and then on entire humanity. In this sense, Rojava is a renaissance in the reality of the Middle East and a revolution in the reality of humanity. Developed on the basis of a democratic nation and the strategy of revolutionary popular war, the Rojava Revolution became a revolution of peoples through the common struggle and heroic epics of the Kurdish, Arab, Assyrian, Armenian and Turkmen peoples.

We celebrate Leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan), who is the architect of our revolution and leader of a democratic nation, as well as our martyrs, peoples and humanity that made history in the realization and defense of the revolution on the 11th anniversary of the Rojava Revolution, which is also the founding anniversary of the YPG.

Not only hope for humanity, but also a blow to the enemies of the revolution

The Rojava Revolution is not only a hope for humanity, but also a blow to the enemies of revolution. It frustrated the plans of hegemonic powers. The great project seeking to intervene in the Middle East was stuck in the freedom struggle and uprisings of peoples. The Rojava Revolution put fear in the heart of the hegemonic powers, the fascist genocidal Turkish state in the first place.

The YPG, which first organized under the name of YXK in 2011, announced its founding with the 19 July Revolution. With the formation of the Women’s Defense Units (YPJ) in 2013 and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in 2015, it emerged as a substantial defense force in defending the whole of Syria. The defense forces thus became a shield against occupation and genocidal attacks and foiled the goals and objectives of the self-seeking powers. The Rojava Revolution became a response to these schemes.

While the peoples of the region were torn from one another by the Treaty of Lausanne a hundred years ago, attempts are being made today to divide this country and peoples into a thousand parts and make them lose for another hundred years. For this very reason, it is the common responsibility of every person who calls himself a ‘human’ to oppose this division and crown the Rojava Revolution with victory.

The Rojava Revolution is a women’s revolution

Another truth revealed by the Rojava Revolution, unlike any other revolution in history, is the fact that it was led by women. The reality of the Rojava Revolution in this regard is unexampled. Women in Rojava achieved a level of awareness and aimed for freedom based on Leader Apo’s philosophy of free women and free society. That is the reason why they led the revolution with great determination and made history on the very front lines of battle, which resulted in repercussions all around the world. This reality paved the way for the recognition of the Rojava Revolution as a women’s revolution. This reality is represented by Leader Apo’s definition that ‘Rojava Revolution is a women’s revolution.’ Continuing in its 12th year as a women’s revolution, it becomes a source of inspiration and hope for all humanity under the leadership of women.

Martyrs are the true architects of the revolution

The true architects of the Rojava Revolution are our martyrs. On this occasion, we remember our fallen comrades with love and gratitude in the person of our commander, Herekol (Hisên Şawiş), who fell a martyr on 19 July 2016. A leading figure of the Rojava Revolution, Commander Herekol improved himself with the philosophy and ideology of Leader Apo and made a great sacrifice in the development of the revolution on this basis. A brave companion of ours, born in the fertile lands of Rojava, Martyr Herekol fought for the freedom of the Kurdish people and all oppressed peoples from his youth to martyrdom and made great endeavours to fulfil his duties. He undertook a historic mission in the most challenging times of the 19 July 2012 revolution and carried the torch of revolution to the present.

On this basis, it is more urgent and important than ever to build a front of all-out resistance against the powers and policies that seek to weaken and victimize the Kurds more than what was done a hundred years ago. We believe that all the peoples in the region, especially the Kurdish people who deserve to be recognized and to maintain a free existence among the peoples of the world, will claim the 19 July Revolution and build a free and democratic future through a common struggle.”