The General Command of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) released a statement drawing attention to the impact created by the Rojava women's revolution and commending the women who have struggled for freedom in Iran as the voice of this revolution.

The YPJ statement on Wednesday includes the following:

“The patriarchal system, with its anti-women practices, has enslaved entire societies through history by subjugating women. It has maintained its dominance through violence and the killing of women, which also amounts to societal genocide. However, in the 21st century, women have organized themselves more effectively and played leading roles on all fronts of struggle. Today, women avenge thousands of years of male-dominated rule and pave the way for a free life through diligent work and sacrifices. Consequently, the state attacks women more brutally through policies of repression, assault, exclusion, and execution.

The women’s revolution in Rojava has become an inspiration for women throughout the region and the world. All women seeking freedom consider Rojava their beacon, drawing strength and confidence from the courage of Rojava’s women. Women from East Kurdistan and Iran closely followed our revolution, and hundreds of young women joined the ranks of the Women’s Protection Units. Among these brave women from East Kurdistan and Iran were Dersim Kermanshah and Viyan Peyman, who joined the Women’s Protection Units, embodying the true echo of the Rojava revolution with their sacrifices and bravery. Today, Iranian women, personified by Bakhshan Azizi and Sharifeh Mohammadi, resist and struggle passionately for a free Iran where all women can live according to their own will.

Unfortunately, the Iranian regime responds to women’s demands and quest for freedom with death sentences. This is not the first time the Iranian regime has attacked women in this manner. In May 2010, the activist from East Kurdistan, Shirin Alam Holi, who fought for her identity and refused to submit, was executed. In 2014, the Iranian regime executed Reyhaneh Jabbari for defending herself against a rapist, and recently, they brutally killed a young woman, Jina Amini, for exposing strands of her hair. In response to these inhumane practices, women from East Kurdistan and Iran have turned all spaces into arenas for uprising and protest under the slogan “Woman, Life, Freedom.” During these protests, women ignited the flame of uprising with their courageous stance, and women worldwide supported the legitimate uprising of Iranian women. Unfortunately, instead of finding solutions, the Iranian regime has intensified its attacks on women in the name of honor and morality, and now they have sentenced activists and journalists Bakhshan Azizi and Sharifeh Mohammadi to death.

We, in the Women’s Protection Units, salute all women of East Kurdistan and Iran in the persons of Bakhshan and Sharifeh for their struggle. They sacrifice their lives for freedom. It is women who lit the torch of the revolution with their bravery and will crown it with victory. Therefore, all women of the world and all of humanity must stand against the execution of female activists to end the authoritarian policies against women and peoples. We, in the Women’s Protection Units, who have made many sacrifices to build a free society, believe in the victory of women’s rightful struggle. The women of the world, who are more organized today, will put an end to this injustice and will lead humanity to a free life.”