ŞIRNEX - PJAK Co-chair Peyman Viyan stated that the movement "Jin, jiyan, azadî" reasserted the existence of women and the meaning of life and said: "It has started a renaissance and a new era of revolution. It has redefined the line between society and the state." 

 

It has been 3 years since the death of Jina Emînî, who died 3 days later (16 September 2022) after being detained by the Irshad Patrol in Tehran, the capital of Iran, for allegedly violating the compulsory dress code by wearing her headscarf inappropriately. 

 

Jina Emînî, who travelled to Tehran from Saqiz city of Rojhilat for a family visit, died in hospital due to torture in detention. After Jina Emînî's death was reported by two Iranian woman journalists, Niloofar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi, public outcry erupted. 

 

On 17 September, protests began in Rojhilat and spread to 31 provinces and more than 100 cities in Iran within two days. Women took off their headscarves in defiance of the ban and led the protests. Thousands of people were arrested, hundreds were killed and 4 people who participated in the protests were executed during the protests that lasted for four months.

 

The main slogan of the protests against the Iranian regime and its policies was "Jin, Jiyan, Azadi (Women, Life, Freedom)". The philosophy of "Jin, jiyan, azadî", which People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan founded on democracy, women's freedom and ecological foundations and which forms the basis of the Kurdish freedom struggle, has become universal from the resistance that threatens to overthrow the Iranian regime. This slogan, which echoed from Rojava to Iran and from there to Europe and America, has become the symbol of women's struggle for equality, freedom and rights around the world. "Jin, jiyan, azadî", chanted in every language by women struggling against male rulers, went beyond a slogan and turned into a manifesto to raise women's voices and demand freedom.

 

Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK) Co-Chair Peyman Viyan spoke to Mezopotamya Agency (MA) on the anniversary of the "Jin, jiyan, azadî" protests that started with the murder of Jîna Emînî and spread around the world.

 

Stating that "Jin, jiyan, azadî" protests were socialised under the leadership of women, Peyman Viyan said that the slogan, which was a struggle, became a universal movement. Stating that with the movement, resistance has become widespread in all areas of life, Peyman Viyan added: "Kurdistan is the home of this struggle and women have been pioneers in this resistance." 

 

DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY GOAL 

 

Peyman Viyan stated that PJAK has been an important part of the struggle that has been going on in Kurdistan for nearly 50 years and that it has raised the struggle in Eastern Kurdistan "on the basis of democratic nation paradigm, women's freedom and ecology". 

 

Stressing that PJAK has developed a social and ideological struggle against the oppressive regime based on the women's manifesto, Peyman Viyan said that the women's struggle first started in Iranian prisons: "Therefore, PJAK's philosophy and practice are clearly included in this revolution. PJAK's 21-year struggle in Iran has spread the revolution of 'Jin, jiyan, azadî' in practice and carried it to living spaces. This resistance has spread as a collective movement throughout Iran and the world and has become a great manifesto of resistance."

 

WOMEN'S LIBERATION MANIFESTO 

 

Stating that the resistance that emerged in the person of women has turned into a worldwide manifesto of liberation, Peyman Viyan said that women expressed their demands for freedom in all segments of society within this resistance. 

 

"'Jin, jiyan, azadî' movement offered a new alternative for society against the misogynist, nationalist and religious understanding imposed by the rulers. That is why everyone saw their existence in this resistance," she said.  

 

A NEW ERA OF REVOLUTION

 

Drawing attention to PJAK's international ties within this resistance, Peyman Viyan emphasised that women see themselves in this resistance against capitalist and fascist approaches and that PJAK has taken the responsibility of carrying this movement to international platforms. 

 

"This struggle has inspired other movements with its ideas and practice. Therefore, our main goal is to further expand this struggle."

 

Referring to the massacres of women and the perception of women in society, Peyman Viyan stated that women's life should be defined in a new way and said the following: "This revolution has created social, political and mental transformations based on women's freedom. It has redefined the line between society and the state. This line is being shaped under the leadership of women and the youth. PJAK is the most important part of this transformation as the representative of women's will in politics."

 

Peyman Viyan also mentioned the importance of women taking part in decision-making mechanisms and emphasised that in order to build a democratic society, women must have decision-making power in every field. Peyman Viyan stated that PJAK has been struggling for this for 21 years and emphasised that they will continue their efforts for women to continue this struggle. 

 

WOMEN WILL LEAD THE STRUGGLE 

 

Stating that Iran is to conceive with a new revolution, Peyman Viyan stated that the resistance of "jin, jiyan, azadi" preserves its vitality. 

 

Peyman Viyan concluded: "In the coming period, the revolution of 'Jin, jiyan, azadi' will be revitalised and will lead the struggle led by women. We believe that this struggle will lead to women's liberation in Iran and then to the establishment of a democratic society. A free Iran, a democratic nation and the liberation of Eastern Kurdistan from this oppressive mentality will be possible through this resistance. This will be the first great revolution of the 21st century, a new beginning, a new manifesto and a new history."

 

MA / Zeynep Durgut