Kurdish Women’s Movement: A Reading Group in Support of the International Week of Solidarity with Rojava

The Emergency Committee for Rojava is calling you for a reading discussion as part of the call by RiseUp4Rojava for an International Week of Solidarity and Action for the week of November 1-8. This week marks World Kobane Day symbolizing the global wave of support for Kobane during its siege by ISIS in 2014, when the Women’s Protection Units and People’s Protection units, YPJ and YPG, fought heroically to liberate the city.

In our reading group, we will discuss the Kurdish women’s liberation movement in Rojava. Following the RiseUp4Rojava call, we will also reflect on how we can strengthen our solidarity with the people of Rojava, as well as the inspiring lessons from Rojava that can be applied to other struggles. As Turkey has escalated its attacks on Rojava, our support and solidarity are needed more than ever.

Readings:

1. An article by Kurdish activist and academic Dilar Dirik on Kurdish women's self-defense, "Feminist Pacifism or Passive-ism?"

2. Chapter 5 from Handan Çağlayan's book Mothers, Comrades, Goddesses, "Kurdish Women Talk: Narrations Trough Everyday Life"

Optional:
Chapter 6 from Handan Çağlayan's book Mothers, Comrades, Goddesses, "Conclusion"

Read more about the call and learn about other actions and events around the world here.

Please RSVP at info@defendrojava.org to get a Zoom link to the event. You can join us even if you don’t have the time to do the readings!