NEWS CENTER - French politician Danielle Simonnet, who visited Rojava, stated that the Autonomous Administration built with Abdullah Öcalan's paradigm is inspiring and said, "Very few people in the world are so progressive in the role of women in society and politics."  

 

A delegation consisting of MPs and representatives of political parties from France visited North and East Syria between 22-28 January. During the visit, which was organised on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the liberation of Kobanê from ISIS, meetings were held with Yekitiye Parastina Jin (YPJ), Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and many political institutions, organizations.

 

L'Après MP Danielle Simonnet spoke to Mezopotamya Agency (MA) about their visit and Turkey's attacks on North and East Syria. 

 

‘WE WENT TO BREAK THE SILENCE’

 

Danielle Simonnet said that their visit was on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the liberation of Kobanê. Danielle Simonnet said, "We went to show our support and break the silence of the international community while Turkey attacks everyday the territory of Syria and of the AANES. Civilians and SDF forces die everyday on the Tishree dam. France, EU and NATO have to act : they must ask for a ceasefire, and decide sanctions against Turkey. The interference of Turkey in syrian politics must stop." 

 

"We were there to learn more about the political, feminist, ecologist, democratic experience of the AANES and say that this model is not a problem but the solution for the future of Syria, and that the people of the AANES must be part of the constitutional process of the new Syria," said Danielle Simonnet. 

 

WOMEN'S ORGANISATION 

 

Danielle Simonnet stated that she was very impressed by the meeting they had with the Zenubiya Women's Community in Raqqa during their visit and said, "Spokeswomen told us how they were oppressed as women during the reign of ISIS. Now they live free, they can work and they have the power to organize as women in women’s assemblies, and they are equal to men while ISIS forced them to obey to men or even sold them as slaves. Also, they live together with kurdish, arabish, syriac women and people. I remember one woman saying to me; ‘We have a social contract. We have a constitution and it says equality between men and women, but we know that if we really want equality, women need to organise themselves'." 

 

Danielle Simonnet stated that the democratic, ecological and women's libertarian life built in North and East Syria is an inspiration for all the peoples of the world and said that as a feminist she need to learn Abdullah Öcalan's views. 

 

Danielle Simonnet added, "The feminist views that Öcalan is building are particularly inspiring; very few people in the world have such a progressive view of the role of women in society and politics. I am also very impressed by how this feminist revolution has been made."

 

Danielle Simonnet said that Kurdish women have organised themselves against sexist attitudes, violence and oppression, and that women have come together for their problems, formed assemblies, and assumed equal roles as co-presidents for men and women. Danielle Simonnet pointed out that these equal visions of the roles of women and men are unique in the world. 

 

‘ÖCALAN MUST BE FREE’

 

Expressing the need for the release of all political prisoners in Turkey, especially PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, Danielle Simonnet said, "It is very important to realise that Abdullah Öcalan is like Mandela. It is necessary and very urgent for him to be free." Danielle Simonnet stated that the talks between PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan and the DEM Party delegation were positive and said, "I really hope that it’s a sign of a change of view of the turkish government on the kurdish community, and that this could lean to the liberation of Öcalan and all other prisoners. But meanwhile, Turkey is attacking AANES on Tichrine waterfall." 

 

Danielle Simonnet pointed out that the peoples of Turkey, Syria and the region want a ceasefire and a peaceful life, but Erdoğan's aim is different. 

 

INTERNATIONAL SILENCE AGAINST THE ATTACKS 

 

Stating that Turkey's attacks in North and East Syria are war crimes, Danielle Simonnet said that sanctions must be imposed against Turkey and Turkey must stop interfering in Syrian politics. Commenting on the silence of the international community against Turkey's attacks, Danielle Simonnet said, "We went to Rojava to break this silence. Bashar al-Assad has fallen and it is good but peace has not been achieved. The European Union gave a lot of money to Turkey to control migration. What a hypocrisy."

 

‘ROJAVA EXPERIENCE SHOULD BE TAKEN AS BASIS’

 

Stating that the new Syria cannot be built without the Rojava experience, Danielle Simonnet continued, "I want to say  to the international community, to the European Union, to the French government and to our President Emmanuel Macron: Take your responsibilities. You must say to Erdogan that he has to stop attacks against people in Tishreen and Israel has to stop its attack in Golan. We spoke with refugees from Afrin. They just want to get back their lives in their country. The democratic project in Rojava should be preserved within a decentralized Syria, with women's rights and an equal representation for each community. It would be good for all Syrian people." 

 

MA / Hîvda Çelebi