MUŞ – Foza Yûsif, a member of the Co-Presidency Council of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), who says they have carried out a revolution within a revolution in the Middle East, stated: “As women of the world, we need to build large-scale organisation. There must be a system that operates with a women’s perspective globally.”

 

The Rojava Revolution, the first in Middle Eastern history to be led by women, has marked 13 years since its inception. Achieving success under female leadership, the revolution initially impacted North and East Syria and later extended its influence across all of Syria and the wider region. It continues to inspire resisting and oppressed communities. Despite embargoes and various attacks, all segments of society, especially women, continue to defend and develop the new way of life they have established.

 

Women, long ignored under the Ba’ath regime, have confronted gender discrimination and fought for their national identity and cultural rights, sending a message to the world. On 8 December 2024, after the fall of the Ba’ath regime, women from North and East Syria once again fought for their rights against the HTS imposed in the interim administration. This year, in Rojava, women marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on 25 November under the banner of defending achievements and strengthening women’s organisation against ongoing attacks.

 

 

We spoke with Foza Yûsif, co-chair of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) Co-Presidency Council, about the ongoing women-led reconstruction and resistance in the region on the occasion of 25 November.

 

A REVOLUTION WITHIN A REVOLUTION

 

Reflecting on the 13 years since the revolution, Foza Yûsif said that “we can say we have carried out a revolution within a revolution.” She highlighted women’s numerous roles in politics, the economy, society, education, and defence, noting: “Women are present as leaders here. In the Autonomous Administration, women’s uniqueness has been defended within the framework of the Social Contract. Women hold authority and decision-making positions in all areas of society. The co-presidency system is applied across all institutions. Women make up 50 percent of every institution and organisation, and sometimes even more.”

 

NATION-STATES AS PRODUCTS OF A MALE MINDSET

 

Foza Yûsif described nation-states as products of a male mindset, noting that their language is patriarchal. She explained that laws and regulations in this system exist to maintain patriarchal order and strengthen male dominance, adding: “These states oppose both the freedom of peoples and the freedom of women. They have seen women gaining strength and consider this a threat to their power. We are talking about a system that relies on women’s and society’s subjugation. They do not want cracks to appear in their oppressive regimes. For them, women’s systems or women’s freedom are threats. They know that if women succeed in one place, women in other systems will rise up to claim their rights. They aim to suppress the women’s revolution. Attacks continue, and we are still targets today.”

 

HTS AND ITS VIEW OF WOMEN

 

Addressing the practices of HTS, which was appointed to the interim administration after the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime, Foza Yûsif said: “The system currently implemented in Syria is entirely formal. They try to tell the world they are doing something for women, but women are not truly considered. In all meetings so far, women’s participation has been minimal. In some cases, women were entirely absent. For example, in dialogues with Saudi Arabia, only one woman was involved. They established a government with 20 ministries, only one of which was led by a woman. At first, they sent the message that 20 out of 100 positions would be for women, but later, there were times when only one woman was present among 100. This shows the policy clearly. The government does not give women real roles or authority. Even when women were part of the government, many resigned. Women face pressure in all areas; in many places, women are forced to cover their heads. Women without secular or religious affiliations face threats. Female journalists, politicians, and academics are targeted and threatened online by groups close to the new government. Women from North and East Syria are primary targets. They are exposed and attacked in morally unacceptable ways. Tribal forces try to confine women to homes, keeping them out of political and social work. These are among the main fronts of the war against women’s freedom.”

 

Foza Yûsif emphasised the need to organise and expand efforts to protect achievements: “Women in North and East Syria face many anti-democratic measures. Therefore, organising and expanding women’s gains across Syria is essential.”

 

THE WOMEN’S SOCIAL CONTRACT

 

On the crucial issue of law, Foza Yûsif spoke about the ongoing work on the Women’s Social Contract: “We have not yet completed it. We aim to expand it to cover and defend all Syrian women. We have made significant progress, but the work continues. We will do our utmost to make our rights permanent. The Autonomous Administration has a system that protects and expands women’s rights. However, we have seen the necessity of such an agreement among women themselves. Therefore, forming alliances among women and fighting side by side with a shared strategy necessitates this contract. Just as a social contract is needed among peoples, it is needed among women. Law and justice must be freed from the male mindset, which is possible through the Women’s Social Contract and the foundation of the women’s revolution. Once the contract is finalised and announced, it will have an impact across Syria, especially in North and East Syria. It will influence how women strengthen their organisation and make decisions.”

 

MESSAGE FOR 25 NOVEMBER

 

Foza Yûsif’s message for 25 November is as follows: “Women around the world are still being killed, targeted, and subjected to violence. We face ongoing oppression and threats of elimination. Women need to organise and unite. Worldwide, we must build large-scale organisation. Systems must operate from a women’s perspective. Women should stand shoulder to shoulder, protect each other, and include men who support women’s freedom in this process. We can also cooperate with ecological and freedom-fighting institutions. All of society must see, through a women’s perspective, how critical the global situation is in politics, defence, economy, and ecology. We see women’s freedom as integral to society’s freedom. That is why we call all segments of society to join the struggle for women’s rights. Without struggle, we cannot end oppression. We must grow this fight every day, not just on 25 November.”