“We, as Yazidi women, announce that we also participate in the move to defend the women’s revolution,” the women of Shengal said.
The Yazidi Free Women’s Movement (Tevgera Azadiya Jinên Êzîdî-TAJÊ) held a protest in Shengal to protest the killing of Nagihan Akarsel, member of the Jineology Academy. During the protest, the women of Shengal held the photographs of Nagihan Akarsel and Jina Mahsa Amini. The women burned their headscarves, chanting the slogans “Jin, Jiyan, Azadi (Women, Life, Freedom)” and “Şehîd namirin (Martyrs are Immortal”.
During the protest, a press statement was issued. The statement read by TAJÊ member Suham Şengali drew attention to the patriarchal system that tries to break the will of free women and free society. “Women will always struggle against this system.
“For five thousands of years, the patriarchal and atrocious mentality has been attempting to destroy the ethic, equal and democratic society by oppressing and enslaving women. Enslaving women means enslaving society,” the statement said.
“The will of women is unbroken”
Condemning the killing of journalist, researcher Nagihan Akarsel, TAJÊ said, “The patriarchal mentality kills women fighters, revolutionaries and pioneers to break the will of free women. But they should know that the will of women is unbroken.”
“Nagihan was a revolutionary”
Recalling that Nagihan Akarsel visit Shengal to get to know, be in solidarity with Yazidi women and to cooperate with them after the genocide committed against them by ISIS, TAJÊ said, “The women of Shengal welcomed her with great excitement and enthusiasm. She wanted to know more about our culture in order to promote it all around the world. She was a revolutionary woman respected by all Yazidi women.”
In the statement, the TAJÊ also recalled the killing of Jina Mahsa Amini in Iran. “Women have taken to the streets in Iran and Rojhelat to protest the killing of Jina Mahsa Amini and demand freedom. Now is the time to defend the women’s revolution.”
“society can be liberated without women’s liberation”
“The killing of Nagihan and Jina Amini once again shows us the reality of patriarchal mentality and how it is cowardly. We, as Yazidi women, announce that we also participate in the move to defend the women’s revolution. As Leader Apo said, we say that society can be liberated without women’s liberation.”