Rîhan Loqo, spokesperson of Kongra Star for North and East Syria, evaluated the attacks launched by Turkey and the Syrian National Army (SNA) in North and East Syria simultaneously with the attack of Hayyet Tahri al-Sham (HTS) that resulted in the overthrow of the regime. Rîhan Loqo stated that the attacks are not new and that the system and life in the Autonomous Administration is at the basis of the attacks.

 

Rîhan Loqo emphasised that there was an attack especially against the concept of democratic-nation and said: "Since the day life in Rojava first sprouted, Turkey has targeted our life. For years, they have been trying to introduce the gangs they have trained and armed into the regions where we live. They want to end life here, break the leadership of women and prevent this will from coming to the fore. They are doing this through massacres, attacks on women, children and disabled people."

 

'WOMEN ARE TARGETED' 

 

Reminding the attacks in Efrîn, Serêkanîyê, Girê Spî, Til Rifaat and Shahba and what happened after the occupation, Rîhan Loqo emphasised that women were targeted first in every attack and occupation. "They wanted to break the will of women and even children. Young children witnessed how their mothers and fathers were massacred. They witnessed being displaced from their own lands. Now, these massacres in Manbij are being carried out with the same methods," she added. 

 

Stating that the system established by women will not be easily destroyed, Rîhan Loqo continued as follows: "We demand the construction of a democratic Syria, the establishment of a multi-national, multi-coloured, multi-religious-believing life. The will of women, the life that women have built here with the philosophy of 'jin, jiyan, azadî (Woman, life, freedom)' is still being targeted. We have been struggling for 12 years, there was a time before that. Our struggle has always continued. The women who realised the philosophy of 'jin, jiyan, azadî' in Syria are ready to take part in the construction of the new Syria. We will approach the construction of the new Syria with the awareness that everyone can build a life with their own identity and beliefs. Our cause is the construction of a democratic Syria in which women are included and all other colours are recognised through dialogue. For this reason, we invite all socialists, women conscious, intellectuals, writers and artists to defend women's gains. The coming days will show whether we will be present or absent. However, in order for us to exist, women's achievements that make us who we are must be embraced in every field."

 

MA / Ceylan Şahinli