Abstract
The Kurdish women’s movement is involved in an active militant struggle against ultra-patriarchal groups such as ISIS, but also in the process of mobilizing a popular movement for feminist social justice, change, and autonomous self-determination. This article describes the ideological and organizational principles of the women’s movement and argues that political consciousness and autonomy resulted in the elaboration of a radical freedom concept in Kurdistan.
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Notes
One example would be this CNN commentary by Frida Ghitis http://edition.cnn.com/2014/11/17/opinion/ghitis-kurdish-womens-rights/index.html.
Bese Hozat: PKK is a Women’s Party, 2013, Interview for Firat News Agency ANF https://anfenglish.com/features/bese-hozat-pkk-is-a-women-s-party-8745.
Sakine Cansiz was murdered along with Fidan Dogan and Leyla Saylemez on January 9, 2013 in Paris.
Abdullah Öcalan is the ideological leader and one of the founders of the Kurdistan Workers Party, PKK. He has been imprisoned in solitary confinement on Imrali Island since February 15, 1999, as a result of an international conspiracy and collaboration of several governments and intelligence services. In spite of his imprisonment, he continues to be seen as the leader of millions of people in Kurdistan and beyond. In prison, he has authored several books and initiated the peace process with the Turkish state. His book publications are in fact his submissions to the European Court of Human Rights. There is an ongoing international campaign to demand his freedom.
Concept developed in Öcalan’s 5 volume series ‘Manifesto for a Democratic Civilization’.
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Dirik, D. Self-Defense Means Political Autonomy! The Women’s Movement of Kurdistan Envisioning and Pursuing New Paths for Radical Democratic Autonomy. Development 60, 74–79 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41301-017-0136-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41301-017-0136-3