The Kurdistan Women’s Communities (KJK) released a statement paying tribute on the death of Marxist-feminist thinker and activist Prof. Maria Mies, with whom the Kurdish women’s movement initiated a dialogue in 2000 to make her aware of the Kurdish women’s revolution.

The KJK statement said: “It is with profound sadness that we learned of the death of Marxist-feminist thinker and activist Prof. Maria Mies. A renowned professor of sociology, she was a convinced feminist of Marxist theory and practice who was able to muster flexibility in the development of the 1990s, clearly distance herself from any form of dogma, and dedicate herself to the particular issues and challenges of the century. The Kurdish women’s movement greatly valued the works of Prof. Mies, which were an important contribution to the promotion of the women’s perspective in a scientific-historical context. She was a pioneer of eco-feminism, a key component of the ideology of the Kurdish women’s movement, which is central to the inspiring autonomous model that has been put into practice today in North and East Syria/Rojava. Her criticism of neo-liberalism and globalised capitalism, also from an eco-feminist perspective, and her proposed alternatives to it, have been a source of strength for millions of women in struggle and played a strong role in building civil society organisations.”

KJK noted that the Kurdish women’s movement initiated a dialogue with Prof. Mies in 2000 to make her aware of the Kurdish women’s revolution. “She immediately took interest, seeking to understand the Kurdish women’s movement, and gained great appreciation for it. She later saw the Kurdish women’s revolution in Rojava as a new source of hope at a time when she had developed an increasingly critical attitude towards women’s organisations in Germany and Europe.”

The statement noted that the Kurdish People’s Leader, Abdullah Öcalan, used the works of Maria Mies when developing his theories of women's history and of the colonisation of women. She knew about this and knew his writings.  

“We can say with pride and happiness that our friend Prof. Mies was able to experience a 21st century women’s revolution in Kurdistan while she was still in good health, and this achievement was made possible through the work of exceptional women like her. Maria Mies is a name that will always stand for insightful analysis, critique, and inspirational alternatives. We remember her with great respect, and she will live on in our struggle for women’s freedom and for the establishment of a more just and peaceful society,” KJK stated.