The Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) held a meeting with the families of martyrs in Raqqa province. The meeting aimed to update the families on the latest developments and to assess the political, social, and military situations in Syria.

The meeting began with a minute of silence in honor of the martyrs. Following this, Zanarin Qamishlo, a leader in the YPJ for the Euphrates region, welcomed the martyrs’ families with pride from a platform that represents their voices. Several speeches were delivered, including one by Zanarin Qamishlo and Hasan Koçer, the Deputy Co-chair of the Executive Council of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria.

The speeches addressed the severe isolation imposed on the international leader in Imrali prison. Hasan Koçer spoke about the extreme conditions of this isolation, which surpass legal limits and have no parallel worldwide. He emphasized that the purpose of this isolation is the fear of the leader’s powerful ideas and their influence on all peoples, and to disconnect the leadership from the populace as he represents a political solution for the Middle East. His ideas oppose capitalist policies.

Hasan Koçer also evaluated the political situation in North and East Syria, discussing the ongoing attacks in the broader Middle East and their causes. He stated, “Among these is the policy of annihilation and denial pursued by the Turkish occupation state against North and East Syria by targeting infrastructure and civilian figures, as well as the forces working to protect the gains of the freedom revolution. These attacks aim to instill fear in the hearts of the people and destabilize these regions. All the people strongly condemn and denounce these attacks on their lands.”

Zanarin Qamishlo spoke about the importance of the revolutionary people’s war and resistance, stating, “For oppressed peoples, it has shown a heroic and honorable stance against the Turkish occupation and its mercenaries’ brutal attacks. The resistance and struggle of the people, who face massacres and displacement while demanding freedom, are honorable and significant wherever they occur.”

She also highlighted the role and participation of women in politics and defense, saying, “In addition to the principles and values that women uphold in fulfilling their national duties, they have achieved tangible results in the political arena, raising their voices and defending their rights and the rights of their people in all fields. They have also increased responsiveness to citizens’ needs and strengthened cooperation among them. Women’s empowerment in political work has a direct impact on enacting more laws and policies that prioritize families, women, and all communities living in the region.”

At the end of the meeting, the martyrs’ families expressed their support for the Syrian Democratic Forces, stating their commitment to following the path of their sons, the martyrs of freedom, who sacrificed their lives for their homeland and the freedom of oppressed peoples. They emphasized their determination to live in stability and security, despite the attempts by the occupation and capitalist states to subjugate and exile them.