The Women’s Defense Units (YPJ) celebrated the birthday of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan and the 10th anniversary of its foundation with a military ceremony under the motto  “Jin, Jiyan, Azadi, YPJ guarantees to preserve the values of the women's revolution.”

Photos of Abdullah Öcalan, his mother Üveyş Öcalan and freedom fighters and YPJ/YPG flags were displayed in the ceremony area.

After a moment of silence, hundreds of YPJ fighters held a parade, where Newroz Ehmed, General Commander of the YPJ, delivered a speech.

After celebrating the birthday of Öcalan and the 10th anniversary of the foundation of the YPJ, Newroz Ehmed said that Öcalan promoted free thought and life and dedicated his entire existence to freedom and women’s liberation.

Ehmed remarked: “The birthday of Öcalan is the birthday of all peoples and democracy fighters. In the person of Mother Üveyş, we salute all the mothers who fight and resist.”

Ehmed also addressed the 10th anniversary of the foundation of the YPJ, saying, “Women have come to these days thanks to Öcalan's ideas and philosophy. Öcalan devoted the free woman philosophy to all women and created a strong will. As female fighters, we got to know ourselves thanks to his ideas and philosophy. Freedom can only be achieved through a relentless struggle.”

Trees were planted following Ehmed's speech.