In Rojava, opening your eyes in the morning is never just waking up. It feels like searching for the traces that war and resistance have carved into the skin of this land, the breath left behind by sacrifice, the faint echo of a revolution that still moves through the air. I find myself looking for these marks almost without meaning to. That morning in Qamishlo, as soon as I pulled the curtains aside, the first thing that appeared before me was the quiet outline of religious buildings rising between walls worn down by war. Two church towers stood there, their crosses lifted into a pale and wounded sky. It is striking to see them in such a small town, a place that is not even a provincial centre, yet these two spires are the first shapes that claim the morning. I took a photograph and sent it to a Christian friend in Turkey. He found it just as moving and replied that one was Orthodox and the other Catholic.

In the early years of my youth, when our days were filled with socialist readings and revolutionary literature, we carried the assumption that socialists were meant to stand at a distance from religion. I still remember reading Sholokhov’s Harvest on the Don in high school. Almost every page described a world in which the spiritual life of peasants slowly faded as the Kolkhoz system expanded. We saw similar portrayals in stories from Cuba and Vietnam. Later, when we encountered critiques of real socialism, we realised something important had been missing. The famous line attributed to Marx, that religion is the opium of the people, had been torn from its full meaning. To correct our own misunderstanding, we had to return to what Marx actually wrote. There we found words that held much more compassion and depth. He wrote that religious suffering is both the expression of real suffering and a form of protest against it, that religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world and the soul of soulless conditions. Those words returned to me on that morning in Qamishlo as I stood before a landscape marked by war yet crowned by church towers. The image stirred something deep inside me and with that mix of sorrow and quiet recognition I stepped outside, carried by a feeling that the truth of the revolution was shining through everything around me.

Amûdê Cinema

The first stop on the festival programme is the commemoration of the Amûdê cinema massacre, a destination that feels less like a visit and more like stepping into a wound that has never truly closed. We set off toward Amûdê in half-filled buses and a few private cars, carrying with us the quiet weight of what we are about to face. The massacre in Amûdê is not only a dark chapter in the history of Kurdistan or Rojava; it stands as a black mark on the history of humanity itself. Neither Caligula, nor Hitler, nor Timur, nor any architect of cruelty known to history, conceived of something like this. In 1960, nearly 500 children were herded into a cinema. The doors were locked. A fire was set. And in that sealed room, according to different accounts, 250 or 257 children were burned alive. Standing in Amûdê on 13 November for the commemoration is heartbreaking, even unbearable, for the opening day of a film festival. Yet without touching this wound, it is impossible to understand what cinema means to the people of Rojava, what it summons in their memories and their collective imagination. To describe the scene in all its rawness would require a heart stronger than mine. The surviving mothers, the siblings, the relatives of those children, still alive, still bearing the fire in their eyes, are not sights every human spirit can withstand.

After the commemoration, we visit the construction site of a new cinema rising in Amûdê, built in their memory. It will also be called “Amûdê Cinema,” a promise that their names will not be lost to time or silence. And it is not only here: across Rojava, in towns large and small, cultural centres and cinema halls are being built to bring art into the daily life of the people.

Shared stories and free cinema

The opening of the festival is unlike any other I have seen. I have attended many film festivals across the world, including in several African countries and mostly in Europe, yet it is rare to witness an opening filled with such energy. The young performers whose musicals I had admired in Mehmud Berazî’s work lit up the stage with rhythm and a beautiful sense of movement. Their presence alone was almost impossible to capture in words. And so the Fifth Rojava Film Festival began under the slogan “Çîrokên Hevpar, Sînemaya Azad”, meaning “shared stories and free cinema”.

The idea of shared stories is not based on something simple, such as sitting together and writing scripts. It carries a deeper meaning shaped by people who come from different parts of the world, who have seen Rojava, lived in it, joined the resistance and given their collective labour and their lives to reach the truth. It carries the desire to produce the aesthetic of this resistance and of life in this place, and to share this artistic celebration with both Rojava and the world. This is how I understand the essence of that phrase, because the foundation of the cinema revolution in this region is filled with concrete creative work that proves this idea directly. The concept of “Free Cinema” reflects this as well. The global state of cinema is widely known. It is almost impossible today for a project born from a free mind to be realised without a producer. Cinema requires a heavy financial investment, and even finding the money is not enough. Every film produced must now be made for the international market, and to enter that system the project must follow a journey that satisfies global norms and expectations starting from the script stage. First you must join script development platforms. Then comes project development, often called pitching, where you meet international producers and festival professionals whose approval or appreciation you must gain. Ideally, you find co producers through international platforms and only then can the film reach the shooting stage. Under these conditions, being part of the film industry means allowing your originality and your freedom to be tested and approved by global gatekeepers. For this reason, the idea of bringing shared stories together with free cinema in Rojava is also a stance. It is a line of refusal and a revolutionary manifesto against the global crisis of cinema itself.

81 films, 22 scripts

The festival brings together 81 films and 22 scripts from different countries. Eight of these films compete in the international category. Another eight appear in the national category, and seven are presented as Syrian films. The festival also features 21 documentaries, along with a wide range of seminars, panels and workshops on cinematography, film analysis and other areas of creative practice. Over the course of eight days, we watch films from many parts of the world, but it is the documentaries that resonate most deeply. A significant number of them turn their gaze directly toward the Rojava Revolution.

The struggle between the old and the new

What I have been able to observe through this festival is that the Rojava Revolution was never only the result of military action or armed resistance. It was not limited to cleansing those lands of ISIS groups, nor was it simply the removal of an imperial and colonial past from a geography whose people have lived there since ancient times and earned their right to exist as naturally as a mother gives milk. The Rojava Revolution was also the founding covenant of a shared life, a call for religions and beliefs and traditions to sit together. It was the moment when a political revolution took on flesh and form with the participation of people from across the world. It was a revolution of art as well, because Rojava had become a crossroads for free thought and independent creation.

At the same time, the Rojava Revolution became the living proof of the conditions needed for a revolutionary cinema. It stands as a real-world example of the distinction Jean Luc Godard drew between making political films and making films through political methods. For him, making films through political methods means grasping class struggle and realising it within film itself. It is, in essence, the struggle between the old and the new. In Rojava, almost everything I saw and observed reflected this. The cinema commune, the way work and life were organised, the importance given to cinema, the sincere and at times almost childlike excitement in the effort to create a new cinema, the understanding of cinema as a form of creation and as a material shaped by revolutionary transformation, all of this showed that a powerful current was beginning to pump blood into an entire body. And by body I mean Rojava, the Middle East and, if one looks closely, perhaps the world itself. Godard’s two principles help make this clearer. Making political films means understanding the laws of the objective world in order to understand life. Making films through political methods means understanding those laws in order to transform the world. What the cinema revolution in Rojava revealed to me, and to participants who came from many parts of the world, was exactly this. It was both the philosophical effort to understand cinema in its social meaning and the effort to transform, carried into life through the camera, the light, the sound, the script, the teaching spaces and the platforms of discussion.

The Kurdish language had been banned for decades under the al-Assad regime (both father and son), and while the situation became more relaxed after the regime’s collapse on Dec. 8, 2024, challenges still persist.

Security fears

Ezzedine Abu al-Qasim, grandson of the late Syrian actor Abdul Rahman Abu al-Qasim and one of the directors of the “Abu al-Qasim” company for dubbing dramas, told North Press, they began dubbing into Kurdish during the rule of the al-Assad regime and were met with concerns from some actors who feared security persecution simply for performing in Kurdish.

He added that some feared the consequences of working in Kurdish, but the company assured them to maintain secrecy to ensure their safety.

“We managed to overcome this major challenge as the first company to dub into Kurdish.”

Dubbing to Arabic saw a boom in 2004 with Turkish series, which attracted large audiences according to observers, though critics often labeled them as poor.

After Saudi Arabia’s MBC Group decided in 2018 to stop airing Turkish dramas, dubbing companies increasingly turned to Venezuelan, Mexican, and Portuguese series.

His brother, Omar Abu al-Qasim—who co-manages the company—explained that they launched “Abu al-Qasim” in 2012. The company initially produced Arabic-dubbed content, until they were approached with a proposal to produce Kurdish-language dubbed series.

He told North Press that the idea felt like an adventure. They knew how much effort it would take, but they were passionate about it.

So they immediately reached out to well-known Kurdish artists—actors, directors, and theater professionals.”

In addition to the typical challenges of dubbing—where actors must convey all dramatic nuance using only their voice—the Kurdish-language dubbing field also struggles with the limited number of Kurdish-speaking actors based in Damascus.

Challenges

The company director said the chosen dialect for Kurdish dubbing is Kurmanji, because it is widely understood by most Kurds and serves as a kind of ‘standard dialect.’

Kurmanji is spoken by Kurds in Syria, Turkey, and parts of Iraq, while Sorani is more prevalent in Iraq’s Kurdistan region and among many Kurds in Iran.

He noted that the company dubs a wide variety of content—including Iranian, Turkish, and Korean series—and said some Kurdish-dubbed Turkish series have been especially successful.

Actor and artistic supervisor Khoshnav Zaza told North Press that dubbing is challenging regardless of the language.

The challenge lies in having to express every emotional and physical nuance—like fear or being hit—solely through your voice, he noted.

He added that the voice actor must match or closely mirror the emotional expression of the actor in the original work.

Zaza also pointed out that another major challenge in Kurdish dubbing is the limited number of Kurdish-speaking actors—both Kurdish and non-Kurdish—from Hasakah Governorate who are now living in Damascus.

“We had to rely on Kurdish individuals and even non-Kurds, and train them on how to deliver lines, how to pronounce the words, how to express that emotion,” Zaza explained.

“So we focused a lot on actor training. That was a big part of the effort, and a credit to Abu al-Qasim Company, for how they managed their time and dedicated extra hours to overcome these challenges, especially with people playing roles who were not trained actors.”

Zaza emphasized, “Kurdish language is a mother tongue, a language present in Syria. It’s beautiful to add Kurdish to Syrian languages by acting or dubbing in Kurdish.”

He continued, “When I act in Arabic as a Kurd, I internally translate the emotional tone of the line into Kurdish before delivering it in Arabic. But when I act in Kurdish, the sentence enters my subconscious directly and the emotion flows out instantly—because it’s my mother tongue.”

Til Temir – Displaced women in North and East Syria have been waging a common struggle although their homelands have been occupied, they have been suffering from displacement, their identities have been ignored and the demographic structure of their region have been changed. In the shadow of all these circumstances, they welcome International Women’s Day. Women, who were displaced from Serêkanîyê (Ras al-Ayn) by the Turkish attacks, have been living in Til Nesri, a Syriac village of Til Temir, northeastern Syria, since October 9, 2019.

NuJINHA spoke to displaced women working at the Iştar Tandoor Cooperative, established by the Economy Committee of Kongra Star in the city of Til Temir to promote women’s economic empowerment, about International Women’s Day.

‘Our homeland must be liberated’

“Women must claim their rights, especially to secure their future,” said Emîne Hisê, who was first displaced from Serêkanîyê by the Turkish attacks and then from Aleppo by the attacks of Al-Nusra Front. “Now, women participate in the labor force everywhere, achieving successes and demanding their rights.”

Emîne Hisê wants Serêkanîyê to be liberated. “We hope that the occupations will end, the Kurdish people will gain their status and achieve victory as a result of their struggle. We hope to return to our homeland. We also demand the physical freedom of leader Abdullah Öcalan.”

Emîra Micris talked about the long-year women’s struggle for rights. “They still have not had their rights although they make more efforts than men. We demand gender equality everywhere.”

‘Our joy remains incomplete’

Emîra Micris called on the Turkish state to withdraw from “our homeland so that we can return to our homes. Our joy remains incomplete because our city, homeland, and our homes are occupied. Displacement is a form of violence. Therefore, our joy will remain incomplete until this violence ends and our cities are liberated. We can celebrate International Women’s Day when our homeland is liberated and we return to our homes. How can I celebrate International Women’s Day when my city is under occupation? We dream of a free country and a world without violence, where men and women are equal.”

 After the liberation of Manbij in 2016, Tabqa in 2017, Raqqa in 2018 and Deir ez-Zor in 2019, the first women’s councils and centers were established in these cities under the leadership of the Kongra Star, as women organized themselves within them. So a conference was held in Raqqa cantons on June 1, 2021, in which 150 women participated, and resulted in the announcement of the Zenobia Women’s Gathering.

The name of the Zenobia Women’s Gathering came from the warrior queen of the Palmyra Empire, Zenobia, and this empire is described in historical references as “a symbol of women’s loyalty to the land and people” and was founded in the city that ISIS mercenaries tried to destroy.

Furthermore, Arab, Circassian, Turkmen and other women from other components, in the gathering centers in Manbij, Tabqa, Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa work to solve all social problems such as violence, underage marriage, polygamy, murder, divorce and inheritance, and they are waging an organized struggle to change the mentality of male dominance.

248 women work in the 4 gathering centers (Manbij, Tabqa, Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor) and within its 11 committees (justice, training, families of martyrs, economy, press, protection, diplomacy, finance, media, health, culture and art).

Resolving more than two thousand cases

According to the gathering’s work results from January 1 to October 31 of this year, 2044 cases were resolved out of 4605 cases, while 478 cases are being followed up and 981 ones were referred to the Court of Justice.

The Gathering Council member, Gian Derik spoke to ANHA agency about the gathering’s activities.

Gian Derik pointed out that the establishment of the Zenobia Women’s Gathering came in light of women’s needs.

“Zenobia exists wherever there are women and children, our gathering plays an active role in confronting problems and society sees it as a best choice for the solution,” Gian Derik said.

She added,” We work in cooperation with the judiciary and the Internal Security Forces, and in the event that any woman is subjected to violence, we first transfer her to the hospital, and we receive a medical report of the beating, then we present the case to the Public Prosecution to begin the trial procedures.

Derik explained that the goal of the Zenobia Women’s Gathering is the  struggle against all forms of violence. She concluded her speech by saying: “To support each other, we must organize ourselves better. Women deserve freedom, and they have sacrificed in all fields. The women who fought ISIS founded Zenobia. On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, we will increase the pace of our struggle according to the philosophy (Women, Life, Freedom).

Hadiya Al-Ahmad makes tea baskets in the city of Deir ez-Zor, northeastern Syria, to earn a living. Her story shows how a woman can be successful and creative despite the difficult living conditions.

 “I am proud of myself for being able to showcase my talents and create my own economy,” said Hadiya Al-Ahmad, who has been making tea baskets for seven years. “I started making tea baskets when I saw a group of women making tea baskets. I watched them and learned how to make tea baskets. Then, I went shopping to buy materials such as plastic baskets, fabrics and yarn, used for making tea baskets.”

‘I decided to start a market stall’

At the beginning, Hadiya Al-Ahmad made tea baskets at home with her daughter. “We exchanged ideas to make creative tea baskets. In a short time, we were able to make five or seven tea baskets every day. Then, I decided to start a market stall with the women in my neighborhood. Now, we make and sell tea baskets together.”

Thanks to the collective efforts, women have managed to build a strong social relationship with each other. “Now, we have a space to exchange ideas. Over time, I started thinking about expanding my business, especially after realizing that the demand for the tea baskets was on rise. I started organizing workshops and training courses to make more creative tea baskets.”

‘Follow your dreams’

Hadiya Al-Ahmad called on all women to “follow your dreams. Do not allow traditions and customs to prevent you from following your dreams. If women are determined and have a strong will, they have the capacity to be successful. My story is not only a success story of a woman but also a story of women’s creativity and resistance against all challenges. As women, we have the capacity to build a better future for our families and ourselves. Teamwork and cooperation can allow us to realize our dreams and improve our society.”

The Women’s Environmental Platform was established at the beginning of 2023 and includes women from fifteen institutions and committees of institutions operating in Rojava and northeastern Syria.

Increased restrictions and control

This harvest season, SNA factions have tightened their hold on Afrin’s economic resources, imposing new royalties and restrictions. According to Mahmi Abdo, a pseudonym for an olive field owner in Afrin’s countryside, the Sultan Murad faction, under the leadership of Fahim Issa, has appointed Abu Walid al-Izza to oversee agricultural activities.

Abdo explained to North Press that the faction recently invalidated all legal powers of attorney previously granted by absent olive tree owners to local representatives in Afrin.

This has impacted individuals representing families who have left Afrin for regions controlled by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) or who have gone abroad. Abdo, who previously managed properties for over ten people, said all these authorizations have now been revoked.

As a result, the faction has seized olive harvests, despite the high costs owners have incurred over the years to maintain their lands. Residents still in Afrin now face additional taxes and royalties of up to 15–25 percent on their olive crops, alongside reports of outright theft and property confiscation.

Factional levies on farmers and olive presses

Ahmad Mesto, a pseudonym for an olive press owner in Afrin’s countryside, different SNA factions are enforcing varying fees on harvests within their areas of control. For instance, the Sultan Suleiman Shah Division (al-Amshat), led by Muhammad Jassem, known as Abu Amsha, imposed a fee of $3.50 per olive tree in Mabata district and surrounding villages. In Sheikh Hadid (Shiyeh) district, a $10 fee per tree was required from individuals holding power of attorney for absent owners.  

Residents still in Afrin are also charged over 10 percent of their seasonal harvest, along with a $5,000 fee for each operating olive press in al-Amshat’s territory.

Mesto noted that the faction mandates pressing olives within its mills, barring transport to other areas and threatening violators with imprisonment.

The Hamzat Division similarly canceled all powers of attorney, implementing a $2 “protection fee” per tree and taking 15–20 percent of olive oil produced by residents. Olive pressing outside faction-controlled mills is strictly prohibited, further limiting local economic independence.

Confiscation and forced levies on olive oil production

Ibrahim Kalo, a pseudonym for an olive oil trader in Afrin, said that Ahrar al-Sharqiya, another SNA faction, has imposed a tax of more than 40 percent on oil production this year. The faction collects its share directly from mills or demands payment through its economic office.   

Kalo added that the al-Muntasir Billah faction, another SNA division, has not only revoked legal powers of attorney but has also leased olive trees to outsiders, imposing a 15 percent tax on oil production for those who remain in Afrin.

Extensive looting has also been reported under the guise of punishing unauthorized representation in areas controlled by this faction.

The Sham Legion and Ahrar al-Sharqiya added further burdens by demanding 30–40 percent of olive crops, collected directly from farmers at the mills. What was once a vital season for Afrin’s farmers has become an ordeal marked by exploitation and loss, with military force used to secure these factions’ financial gains.

Impact of prolonged conflict and displacement

Since Turkey’s “Operation Olive Branch” in 2018, the Turkish-backed SNA factions have held control over Afrin, resulting in the displacement of approximately 300,000 Kurdish residents, many of whom [until they were recently once again displaced by Turkey-backed SNA factions resided] in Aleppo’s northern countryside, locally known as the Shahba region.

The ongoing exploitation of Afrin’s olive industry has compounded the hardship faced by those who remain, with no accountability in place to protect their livelihoods from factional abuses.

On November 13, 1960, 500 children were brought to the Amouda Cinema, located in the Amouda town of Jazira Canton, NE Syria, to watch the Egyptian film ‘The Midnight Spirit’ (Chabah nisf al-layl) upon the instructions of the Syrian government although the capacity of the cinema was 200. The doors of the cinema were locked after 500 elementary school students entered the cinema and 283 Kurdish schoolchildren aged between 8-14 were killed in the fire. Although people accused the Syrian government of intentionally starting the fire, no investigation was launched into the fire.

 64 years have passed since the Amouda cinema fire. The cinema has been rebuilt in cooperation with the Municipalities’ Union of Jazira Canton and the Rojava Film Commune.

Library next to the cinema

“The aim of the rebuilding of the cinema is to commemorate and remember those who lost their lives in the fire,” said Dorîn Deqorî of the Technical Control Department at the Amouda Municipality. “The lot area of the cinema will be 162 square meters and rebuilding it will cost $346,326. The project to rebuild the cinema was proposed by the Municipalities’ Union of Jazira Canton and the Rojava Film Commune. The construction of the cinema started on August 31 and it continues. We will build a library next to the cinema.”

Speaking about the next projects of the municipality, Dorîn Deqorî said, “We plan to develop more projects because we work for our people and our society.”

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On October 23 and 24, Turkey has attacked 30 confirmed locations throughout NES, carrying out airstrikes targeting electricity, oil, and other civilian infrastructure. Many locations were hit several times.

The air strikes targeted factories, two bakeries, a health center, and Asayish (Internal Security Forces) checkpoints. Oil stations such as Awda, Tafla, and Suwaydiyah, along with power stations in Kobane and Amude that supply and service the cities were also hit.

This repeated targeting of vital and service facilities precipitates a humanitarian disaster in an area that is home to millions of people, who are already suffering from severe fuel and gas shortages as a result of Turkey’s repeated targeting of infrastructure facilities in previous years.

Rojava Information Center is available to provide on-the-ground comment, plus photos and videos from airstrike sites and contact to political representatives and humanitarian personnel for comment.

October 25, 2024

Update October 26: Turkish Airstrikes Hit Over 50 Locations in NES

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• Turkey has attacked over 50 locations across NES since the night of October 23, with 8 confirmed attacks on October 26.
• The number of fatalities remains 14, while the number of injured civilians has risen to 33.
• The attacks continued to target civilian infrastructure including construction companies, an oil field, a dairy factory and an Asayish center.

Rojava Information Center is available to provide on-the-ground comment, plus photos and videos from airstrike sites and contact to political representatives and humanitarian personnel for comment.

October 27, 2024

Manbij is located in the northern countryside of Aleppo, and has commercial crossings that connect areas run by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), those controlled by the Syrian government forces, and those under the control of Turkish-backed armed opposition factions, aka the Syrian National Army (SNA).

Fahd Shalash, co-chair of Relations Office of the Future Syria Party in Manbij, said that the city has become the “Aleppo” of Northeast Syria, which was known as the commercial capital of Syria before the Syrian conflict.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) supported by the U.S.-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS liberated Manbij from ISIS in 2016 following fierce battles.

Following its liberation from the group, the local population, including Arabs, Kurds, Circassians and Turkmen, established their own administration to run the affairs of the region, which later joined the AANES.

Job opportunities

Shalash believes that city’s suitable location for trade improved living conditions through trade revenues and providing job opportunities for residents and IDPs.

Shalash told North Press that thousands of workers benefited from trade in Manbij, in addition to contributing to a boom in construction and real estate activities.

Sadrudein Hamedi, Deputy co-chair of AANES’ Trade Committee in Manbij, said that commercial activity in Manbij contributed to economic growth in general. However, Turkish threats and the closing of crossings are key challenges.

Hamedi points out the boom in the economy created job opportunities for shipping, loading and unloading workers, warehouse rentals, and long-distance commercial shipping which contributes to economic recovery.

Economic growth

Hamedi believes that AANES trade laws and monitoring markets helped boost economic growth in the city.  He adds that so far the AANES’ Chamber of Commerce has granted over 1,000 registrations for medium and small shops and the Trade Directorate has issued 30 licenses for major traders importing basic materials.

Businessmen in Manbij import food, construction items, and raw materials essential for manufacturing, meanwhile exporting the agricultural surplus and livestock resources.

Commercial exchange

Abdulkarim Jalo, a merchant from Manbij, says commercial goods go in and out of the city on a daily basis through trade crossings and are exported to other cities in Northeast Syria.

Jalo adds commercial exchange reaches areas in the far northeast of Syria, where goods from Iraq enter Manbij via the city of Qamishli. Additionally, Turkish and European goods are shipped from Manbij to the cities of Kobani and Raqqa, and Hasakah.

Jalo says they faces obstacles in their business, including early closure of checkpoints within Northeast Syria, especially the bridge of Qaraqozaq checkpoint.

Jalo points out that the commercial movement in Manbij has significantly reduced unemployment in the city and has created job opportunities for machinery owners in Manbij and beyond to work in the field of commercial cargo shipping.

Jalo further explains that the commercial movement contributed to the increase in the number of markets in the city and its countryside. Previously, the city had only one market, but now more markets are seen in most neighborhoods of the city.

Hasakah – On October 9,2019, the Turkish state attacked Serêkaniyê (Ras al-Ayn), displacing thousands, including women and children. The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) built an IDP camp called Washokani camp for the displaced people of Serêkanîyê. In 2023, Kongra Star Economy Committee opened a bakery called “Tenûra Îştar” to support displaced women and create the spirit of communal life in the camp. Three women working at the bakery bake fresh bread between 4 and 7 a.m. and between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. every day.

‘Many women need to work to earn a living’

The bakery is the source of living for women living in Washokani camp, said Hesîna Elî, an employee of the bakery. “I am one of the displaced people from Serêkaniyê’s Til Thiyab village. We had to leave our village due to the Turkish attacks and settled in Washokani camp. In the camp, many women need to work to earn a living. This bakery provides employment to us and offers cheap bread to all displaced people in the camp.”

‘We work with a common spirit’

“We work together with a common spirit,”Hesîna Elî said, adding, “We are three women working at the bakery. We bake flatbread by being in solidarity with each other. We want to expand our business to bake tandoori bread. The challenge we face is that we bake bread over an open fire even in summer. We need more space to expand our business.”

‘Ishtar is a goddess who creates life’

Speaking about the name of the bakery, Hesîna Elî said, “The bakery is named after Ishtar. Ishtar is a goddess who creates life. We named the bakery after Ishtar because Ishtar has a special place in our heart. Throughout history, women have developed agriculture, baked bread and played an important role in their societies. Before women could not participate in the labor force because working was shameful for women. After the revolution in Rojava, women began to participate in the labour force by breaking gender stereotypes. I express my support to all women working to earn a living. We thank the Kongra Star Economy Committee for supporting displaced women.”

In the autonomous region of North and East Syria, alternative healing methods are increasingly being researched and used in addition to traditional medicine. A naturopathy center was founded five years ago for the self-governing districts of Shexmeqsûd and Esrefiye in Aleppo.

Employee Rîham Hemreş told ANF: “At a time when society is turning to hospitals, we have decided to look at the legacy of our grandmothers and mothers and dedicate ourselves to natural medicine. Some chemical medications can provide quick results, but their side effects spread throughout the body over time. Treatment with natural medicine is lengthier, but does not cause any side effects and does not harm the patient. Naturopathy used to be very popular. Demand declined over time. We need to raise society’s awareness in order to strengthen belief in naturopathy again.”

Rîham Hemreş said that they benefit from the experiences of wise people: “We also draw conclusions by researching the benefits of plant varieties. Or we deal with the causes of diseases. Researching a correct diagnosis and using the knowledge of experienced people has improved our work.”

Treatment methods have been developed that prevent diabetes, bone diseases, body inflammation, skin diseases and obesity, explained Rîham Hemreş. The patients who contacted the naturopathy center were satisfied with the treatment method and the results of the treatment. Most of the plants used in the treatment come from Shehba. The center also provides information on disease prevention and treatment methods and training. Body pain is also relieved with physiotherapy. According to Rîham Hemreş, the principle applies that every person gets the treatment they need: “Natural medicine contributes to social health.”

Shahba – Six years have passed since Afrin was occupied by the Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions. During this period, the people, who did not accept oppression, torture and cruelty in Afrin had to leave their homeland and took shelter in Shahba.

Afrin-Shahba Cooperative opened a bakery in Shahba on March 8, 2024 to provide employment to displaced women of Afrin. 15 people, including five women, work at the bakery now. At the bakery, they bake 6,000 bags of bread daily and 38,000 bags of bread weekly.

“This bakery was opened by the cooperative and both men and women work at the bakery,” said Zeyneb Murad, the director of the bakery. “We put this project into practice to provide employment for displaced people. Currently, five women work at the bakery but this number will increase. We sell bread cheaper.”

‘We want to grow our bakery in the future’

 Zeyneb Hesen, an employee at the bakery, earns a living for herself and her family. “We were displaced from Afrin and took shelter in Shahba. We have faced many difficulties until now,” she said. “I work at this bakery to support my family. I thank the cooperative for providing employment for us at the bakery. Women and men work at the bakery together. We want to grow our bakery in the future. We are happy to support our people by working at the bakery.”

Mesopotamia Foundation celebrated Kurdish Language Day on 15 May at a keynote reception held to showcase a decade of achievements in revitalising the Kurd’s mother tongue, recording folklore, and improving access to resources and education centres. Bahoz Baran, a board member, outlined the foundation’s mission in an interview with Mezopotamya Agency.

Located in Diyarbakir (Amed), Turkey’s largest Kurdish-majority city, the NGO was founded in 2013 to safeguard endangered Kurdish dialects and establish a multilingual university where students can learn and express themselves in their mother tongue, primarily Kurdish.

The foundation works collectively with Kurdish speakers from Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran in the language and folklore studies. It aims to preserve the rich cultural heritage of the Kurdish people by transcribing oral stories from the community, Bahoz said.

The board member highlighted the publication of two magazines by the foundation, ‘Folklore and Language’ and ‘Our Folklore’, books on Kurdish orthography, dictionaries, and children’s stories. In addition, he said the foundation has organised a raft of panels and seminars on folklore terminology, oral culture and the standardisation of language. Kurdish terminology in areas such as law, education and medicine, has also been expanded.

Kurdish Language Day has been marked on 15 May since 2006. In 1932, on the same date, the Kurdish magazine ‘Hawer’ was first published in the Latin alphabet. This development is considered key to the history of the Kurdish language.

“Hawar is the voice of knowledge. Knowledge leads to personal reflection. A person who becomes aware of the inner self desires freedom and happiness. Self-knowledge also leads to self-expression. This magazine will reflect those expressions in the Kurdish language,” Celadet Eli Bedirxan, the magazine’s publisher, said.

The Kurdish language is the second most commonly spoken language in Turkey but has come under heavy repression since the establishment of the Turkish Republic in 1923. Prohibitions against the use of Kurdish in Turkey go back many years. Kurdish language, clothing, folklore and names had been banned since 1937. The words ‘Kurd’, ‘Kurdistan’ and ‘Kurdish’ were among those officially prohibited. After the military coup in 1980, speaking Kurdish was officially forbidden, even in private life.

Prohibitions on the Kurdish language in Turkey are part of the state’s broader denial of the Kurdish identity, also described as a cultural genocide. Turkish Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin recently announced that only 10 language teachers were Kurdish out of 20,000 new appointments.

Khalid Ibrahim, co-chair of Manbij Municipality, told North Press that the first phase included installing the drainage system from the industrial zone to the al-Mankuba River, extending 1400 meters at an estimated cost of $106,000, which was included in the 2023 budget.

The industrial zone is located near the village of Azer in the east of Manbij, northern Syria, and extends 430 dunams.

Ibrahim said that they allocated a budget ranging between $450,000 to $500,000 from the 2024 budget  for the second phase of the project. This phase includes road construction, installing the sewage system within the industrial zone, constructing yards and shops.

Ibrahim added that this industrial zone is considered the largest one throughout Northeast Syria.

The industrial zone will include 610 stores, factories, and warehouses. The project is divided into four stages due to the high cost and workload, spanning four years from 2023 to 2026, Ibrahim said.

Ibrahim also pointed out the second phase, which will be implemented during 2024, includes establishing the stores and factories for food, wood, and metal industries.

He pointed out that the industrial zone includes a large garage space covering an area of 50 dunams, aiming to prevent trucks from entering the city in order to alleviate traffic jam.

The distribution of stores and factories will be coordinated with the Industry and Trade directorates of the AANES, in addition to civil society organizations and the Union of Professions, as they will be leased to industrialists based on lease contract.

The industrial sector is a vital part of the economy in AANES-run areas, providing employment opportunities for thousands of families in the midst of the country’s difficult living conditions.

Experts and officials highlight the stages the healthcare sector went through during the Syrian conflict, the challenges the efforts made for the progress and improvement of medical services in areas run by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).

Revival

Kassar Ali, a doctor and researcher in healthcare management, says 75 percent of healthcare facilities in Northeast Syria were destroyed in battles between various parties to the conflict in Syria.

Ali adds that before the war, quantity overshadowed quality in healthcare. Even though there were many health centers and hospitals, but the services were limited, according to Ali.

He told North Press that after 2017, the healthcare system shifted to mainly providing an emergency services and address injuries and diseases caused by the war.

Although healthcare facilities in Hasakah Governorate, northeast Syria, did not sustain damage, they were under heavy pressure for years.

In 2019, the healthcare system began to recover as private hospitals were established and doctors started working in affected areas.

After 2020, secondary healthcare emerged and was activated, including surgeries and specialized children’s hospitals. The healthcare sector is currently being assessed amidst funding and staff shortages to transition to stability and early recovery phase in order to meet the needs of the population.

Inadequate efforts

Ali believes that the AANES provided good healthcare, but there are still shortcomings in relation to medical specialties and services. The AANES hopes to guide the healthcare sector and assist in its development to fulfill the people’s needs, according to Ali.

He points out that medical and relief organizations have contributed to establishing health centers and hospitals, providing a “strong support” in expertise and funding to the AANES.

However, Rojin Ahmad, deputy co-chair in the AANES’ Health Board in Hasakah, disagrees with Ali saying that international organizations do not directly deal with the AANES. She adds there is an inequality in the distribution of medical aid, as it is directed to affected areas, whereas Northeast Syria is excluded.

Ahmad points out that after the recent Turkish attacks on infrastructure and healthcare facilities, the AANES did not receive any support from humanitarian organizations.

The kidney dialysis center and oxygen plant facility that supplied all hospitals in the city and countryside of Qamishli, northeastern Syria, were completely put out of service due to the Turkish airstrikes that took place in late December 2023.

The official said that humanitarian organizations contributed to a partial improvement in healthcare but caused harm by attracting medical staff with incentives, leading to a shortage of staff in the public sector.

Challenges

The medical sector in Northeast Syria faces challenges like immigration of medical staff, lack of specialized pharmaceutical factories, and the current situation of the region.

The AANES aims to address staff shortages in healthcare by relying on locally trained medicine graduates from universities run by the AANES.

Ali also stresses that the closure of the al-Ya’rubiyah (Tel Kocher) border crossing is one of the main obstacles that the healthcare sector faces. She appeals for the reopening of the border crossing to improve the healthcare situation in the area.

Al-Ya’rubiyah (Tel Kocher) border crossing on the Syrian- Iraqi border was the most important between the two countries prior to the Syrian conflict in 2011. It was closed in 2020 after a Russian-Chinese veto in the U.N. Security Council, blocking Northeast Syria access to international humanitarian aid.

AANES officials state that opening the border crossing will help facilitate the passage of humanitarian aid to areas run by the AANES, ensuring the stability of the region. Ali further adds they are working to transition from the emergency phase to the stabilization phase and supporting the medical sector, by increasing competent centers, supporting hospitals, increasing medical staff, and monitoring the private sector

The Rojava Revolution is a radical democratic revolution that sees itself as a counter-model to capitalist modernity. This is also evident in practice. In this way, a solidarity-based economy is being built step by step in the region. Women’s cooperatives play a dual role, on the one hand, in the economic empowerment of women and, on the other hand, in the democratization of the economy.

The economic policy spokeswoman for the Women’s Congress of Northern and Eastern Syria Kongra Star, Gûlê Murad, emphasized that the economic model of Rojava is not a novelty, but the construction and organization of women’s economy is something completely new. One must remember that the development of women’s economy took place under war conditions. Murad told ANF in this interview. She added: “We strive to adapt and develop our cooperatives to the conditions of war in order to defend the achievements of women and to take ever further steps forward.”

With the Rojava Revolution, women began to participate in political, social, military and economic life. Under the leadership of Kongra Star, an organized women’s economy was officially created in 2015. This women’s economy continued to develop and grow despite setbacks caused by war and thought structures based on the old system. In Dêrik, Tirbêspiyê, Girke Legê, Amûdê, Qamişlo, Hesekê, Dirbêsiyê, Şedadê, Til Temir, Kobanê, Şehba, Tebqa and Raqqa, around 500 women work in agricultural cooperatives on around 63,000 hectares of land. The number may seem small, but if one includes the families that live on the women’s income, you get many times over. 131 women work in various cooperative projects such as bakeries, restaurants, tailors and shops. There are a total of 78 women’s cooperatives, 51 of which are in agriculture, two in canned food production and 25 shop and bakery cooperatives.

The result of a great battle

Murad spoke about the period before the revolution and said: “The economy was seen as a field reserved only for men. Therefore, women did not see the field of economics as their own. It was only through great struggle that we managed to attract women to the business sector. We moved from house to house, had one discussion after another and got to where we are today. The women were confined to their homes and acted within the limits set for them. If we look at it historically, the field of economics is a field that was peculiar to women, but over time it became a field from which women were most separated.”

Building an economy reduces refugee movements

Murad underlined the importance of officially organizing the women’s economy and pointed out that this was the only way to mitigate the refugee movement: “Women are now producing their own products and setting up cooperatives. They now make decisions in the area of economics and are real pioneers. One of our goals was to stop migration from the region through economic development, and we were able to achieve this goal. Women’s participation in the economy and the development of the women’s economy has encouraged women to explore new areas of life. We also take the policy of women’s self-sufficiency as a basis. By involving women in the economy, we have also ensured their economic freedom. We have strengthened their ties to the land through agricultural cooperatives. We cannot say that we have created a perfect economy that has reached all women, but it is clear that great strides have been made.”

Municipal economy adapted to the needs of life

Murad spoke about the intensive involvement of women in the economic development process, and said: “Before the revolution, there were working women, but this did not go beyond the civil service. They did their work for a few hours and then were locked back in the house. Women had no economic freedom, no say in the household. They were completely in the clutches of the patriarchy. Women, who had a say in the economy as in all areas of life, pioneered the economy, participated freely in life, and created a social economic model. In this way, a municipal economy could be built according to the needs of life.”

Strategic perspective on ecological energy production and self-sufficiency

Underlining that the development of the women’s economy based on a strategic perspective is achieving success, Murad said: “We used to develop the women’s economy only through agriculture, we waited for the rain and tried to promote economic development. As a women’s economy, we focus on agricultural cooperatives, but we have come to the conclusion that there should be a more strategic focus. We have recognized the need to create a solar energy system because we value a more advanced, comprehensive and self-sufficient system, and we will strengthen our organization in this regard. Water wells have also been drilled in every city, because if our agricultural cooperatives stagnate, we will have difficulty developing our other projects. If we develop in the area of agriculture, we will consolidate the foundations of the economy.”

Strengthening cooperatives

In the last year, in particular, the role of cooperatives has been strengthened. New water wells were drilled in Şedadê, Til Temir, Hesekê, Dirbêsiyê and Cizîrê. Murad said: “About 8,000 fruit trees were planted. The 25 existing bakeries and shops were strengthened. Agricultural cooperatives to support the family economy were organized in suitable locations. New training courses have also been set up.”

The attacks don’t stop

The cooperatives also suffer from the Turkish attacks on the infrastructure. These attacks were particularly aimed at destroying the economy in the region. Murad said: “As a women’s economy, we are creating an alternative form of production. And this work takes place under attack. Our economic model is not a novelty, but it is new in terms of the organization of the women’s economy. We strive to adapt and develop our cooperatives to wartime conditions in order to defend women’s achievements and take further steps forward. The economic achievements will increase the level of prosperity of society and eliminate dependence on foreign countries. Despite the various attacks, we will continue to work for the development of the economy and the development of the women-led economy for the benefit of society.”

Masoud Muhammad, who supervises the work of the poultry farm and cattle ranch under the Office of Social Projects and Cooperatives in Kobani, a foundation affiliated with the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), told North Press that the office has a project in the village of Sheikh Joban, 20 kilometers south of Kobani, includes a section for poultry and another for cattle breeding. 

The section that was targeted by the shelling is the poultry farm, which specializes in breeding broilers that produce eggs specifically for incubators. The chicks are then produced and distributed to 109 poultry farms in the Kobani countryside. 

During the first half of January, Turkey targeted 89 locations with a total of 122 strikes, including 62 drone strikes and 22 airstrikes. 

The Turkish bombardment concentrated on electricity and fuel production and distribution facilities. It also rocked centers and checkpoints of the Internal Security Forces of North and East Syria (Asayish). It has also targeted four security and military locations belonging to the Syrian government forces.   

However, the airstrikes have also affected civilian houses and private production facilities, including the poultry farm in Kobani and al-Khayrat Mill near the village of Sanjak Sadoun in the countryside of the town of Amuda in northeastern Syria.

Muhammad added that the shelling caused significant damage to the poultry farm, including the destruction of the hatchery section. The incubators were destroyed and put out of service, and both automated cooling and feeding sections which automatically provided fodder for chicken were completely destroyed, according to Muhammad.  

Muhammad further explained that the total losses amounted to about $60,000, and that “the poultry farm is now out of service.” 

The Turkish drones targeted with seven strikes the power plants in Kobani, Ain Issa, Amuda, Tirbe Spiyeh (al-Qahtaniya), Qamishli, and Derbasiyah . As a result, these stations went out of service, according to statistics released by the AANES on Jan.15.

Turkey also carried out seven airstrikes on oil facilities. The targeted locations included the Sweidiya gas plant, the Awda oil field, Taflah Refinery station, and another oil facility in the village of Gire Pire near the town of Tirbe Spiyeh. Furthermore, warehouses used for oil field maintenance in northeastern Syria were also hit.

The recent Turkish airstrikes negatively impacted infrastructure, service facilities, power plants and oil fields in northern Syria, significantly affecting the health sector, according to Dr. Farat Mqdisi, Director of al-Salam Hospital in Qamishli.

The Turkish airstrikes targeted on Jan. 15 the Sweidiya gas plant in the countryside of Derik (al-Malikiyah), far northeastern Syria, knocking it out of service. The plant used to supply the area with gas and electricity.

The absence of electricity has affected healthcare centers in Qamishli. “We essentially depend on operating generators which must work for 24 hours a day,” Mqdisi said.

“Electricity provided by the Syrian government was available before the airstrikes but now its lack will negatively affect the health sector,” he added.

Mqdisi emphasized that hospitals, amid ongoing power outages, will face material and technical difficulties as generators require large amounts of fuel whose securing becomes challenging too.

Since the beginning of 2024, the northeastern areas of Syria have experienced instability due to the Turkish airstrikes that targeted 89 sites with 122 strikes on Jan. 15.

The Turkish airstrikes focused on electricity and fuel production sites, as well as centers and checkpoints of Internal Security Forces in North and East Syria (Asayish). Also, four security and military sites affiliated with the government forces were targeted.

There are three generators operating in al-Salam Hospital in Qamishli. However, due to operating for long hours, maintenance will be necessary.

“What will happen if a power generator breaks down during a patient’s surgery?” Mqdisi wondered. The worst-case scenario could unfold without a swift solution to this problem.

“This month, we will pay multiple expenses if we rely solely on power generators and fuel purchases as well as hospitals will face a crisis,” he added.

The hospital director emphasized the need to get greater support for hospitals and healthcare centers  in case of any new targeting of the region.

He noted that it is the responsibility of the local authorities to prioritize the healthcare sector and ensure government electricity for hospitals and healthcare centers in general to be able to provide their services fully. Generators will not be a substitute option for government electricity but they are only a backup method for supplying power.

Mathar Abbas, Co-chair of the Health Board in Hasakah Governorate, northeastern Syria, explained that the health sector has been greatly affected due to the loss of fuel, and the reason is attributed to Turkey’s targeting of oil fields.

“The health sector has been significantly affected due to Turkish airstrikes. We have 26 ambulances in service, but there is a shortage of fuel supply for these vehicles, exposing us to harm,” Abbas stated.

The official emphasized that Turkey’s targeting of power facilities along with the outage of government electricity have greatly impacted the operation of hospitals. As we know, hospitals operate 24/7 and cannot remain without electricity. Currently, all of them are deprived of government electricity, causing a disruption in their operational system.

Currently, hospitals rely on private generators to supply them with electricity, but there are departments within the hospital that require continuous electricity, such as incubators, intensive care units, and operating rooms. Therefore, generators need large quantities of fuel on a daily basis.

In late 2023, Turkey targeted several vital healthcare facilities in northern Syria, including kidney dialysis center and the USAID-supported oxygen tank factory in Qamishli. The Turkish strikes also hit Meshtanour clinic in the city of Kobani, northern Syria, which is supported by Médecins du Monde (MDM) Organization and Covid-19 Hospital in the countryside of Derik (al-Malikiyah) in the far northeast Syria. Under the Geneva Convention, attacks on hospitals are strictly prohibited. 

Dialysis center 

On Dec.25, 2023, Turkey targeted several vital facilities in northern Syria, including the kidney dialysis center in the city of Qamishli and knocked it out of service. The significant damage inflicted on the center prevented it from resuming its services. As a result, one of the patients died. 

“More than 22 kidney patients were planned to come to the center for treatment the day following the strike,” said Rafe Abbas, center’s director. “Kidney patients, in particular, cannot postpone their turn, not even for a single day, especially those with severe cases.”  

Health board of the AANES stated that the center, the only one in Qamishli, used to help 100 patients with almost 250 sessions weekly. The kidney dialysis center in Qamishli, which was established by the AANES in 2021, provided free kidney dialysis services and was visited by dozens of kidney patients monthly. 

The center was equipped with a specialized medical staff, six dialysis devices, blood pressure medications, diluents, analgesics and preservatives, and there was a resuscitation department, a pharmacy, and a laboratory.

The health board affiliated with the AANES is currently conducting maintenance work to resume the operations of the center and be able to receive patients. 

Oxygen factory

In the same Turkish airstrike which targeted the kidney dialysis center, the oxygen factory was also destroyed since it is located in the vicinity of the center. The factory was supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and it used to meet the oxygen needs of most hospitals in Qamishli. 

In October 2022, the AANES and in cooperation with BasicNeeds US company opened a new oxygen factory in the city of Qamishli, to secure oxygen for patients in all public hospitals for free and in private ones with nominal prices. The factory consists of two parts; each one could produce 150 big and medium oxygen cylinders, with 90-95% cleanness and has the capacity of accommodating 120 liter of oxygen. 

Kobani’s only clinic 

On Dec. 25, 2023, the Turkish bombardment targeted several sites in Kobani and its countryside, including the Meshtanour Medical Center and completely put it out of service. The clinic used to provide healthcare services for over 500 patients per day. Over 110,000 patients benefited from the center’s services every year. 

Ahmad Mahmoud, Co-chair of AANES’ Health Board in Kobani, told North Press that the damage caused by the Turkish airstrikes on the center is estimated at $200,000. “It would take months, if not years, to establish a similar center and resume operations, providing services to the local population.” 

The center consisted of the Outpatient Department, the Diabetic Foot Department, the Emergency Department, the Woman and Children Department, the Psychological Support Department, and the Vaccines Department which included leishmaniasis vaccines. 

Covid-19 Hospital

Between Oct.5 and Oct.7 in 2023, Turkey targeted 131 sites in northeast Syria, and the Covid-19 Hospital was one of the targeted sites. The hospital that is located in Derik was completely destroyed. It consisted of four sections, two of which were designated for Covid patients, and two for suspected Covid patients, with a total of 12 rooms, each accommodating four patients until undergoing PCR testing.

All of the emergency and treatment medications for patients and medical equipment were destroyed, including monitors, nebulizers, ventilators, blood pressure monitors, oximeter devices, and mobile X-ray machines. The hospital was entirely destroyed and became a pile of rubble. 

Prohibited internationally

Under the Geneva Convention, attacks on hospitals are strictly prohibited. Common Article three stipulates that in all circumstances, persons must be treated humanely and impartially and that the wounded and sick shall be collected and cared for. The customary international humanitarian law also provides special protection for hospitals, medical staffs, and healthcare workers.

The international human rights law prohibits arbitrary deprivation of freedom. The right to health, enshrined in the International Covenant on economic, social, and cultural rights, to which Syria is a party, includes an unequivocal commitment to provide healthcare facilities and access to healthcare services on a non-discriminatory basis, especially for vulnerable and marginalized groups, as stated in Article No. 14. Deliberate attacks on hospitals and places housing the wounded and sick and attacks on healthcare staffs using slogans of the Red Cross or Red Crescent constitute “a war crime in non-international armed conflicts.”

Article 18 of the Fourth Geneva Convention states, “Civilian hospitals organized to give care to the wounded and sick, the infirm and maternity cases, may in no circumstances be the object of attack, but shall at all times be respected and protected by the Parties to the conflict.”

Article 19 continues, “The protection to which civilian hospitals are entitled shall not cease unless they are used to commit, outside their humanitarian duties, acts harmful to the enemy.”

According to Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court of 1998, intentionally directing attacks against civilians and hospitals is considered a war crime, unless there is evidence that they are military objectives.

The AANES areas are classified as among the richest ones in Syria due to the economic resources diversity, including oil, agriculture, developmental projects, and border crossings.

Objectives and Obstacles

The AANES has established around 13 factories in various sectors with the aim of establishing a strong local economy in its regions in recent years. However, the mismanagement of this economic system has hindered achieving the goal, according to officials of the AANES.

Those obstacles have prompted the AANES to make changes at the structural level of the Economy Board and implement new strategies to revive its weak economy.

Those responsible for the economic sector in the AANES emphasize that the main objectives include building a foundation for a local economy by organizing the mechanisms of economic work, developing and organizing the key productive sectors, and enhancing their performance levels.

Muhammad Shawqi, Co-chair of the Economy Board of the AANES, says they aim to use the available economic resources in the region and distribute them among economic sectors in a way that achieves tangible added value and increases the capital accumulation in their areas.

“We work on diversifying the production base, improving work and performance levels in productive sectors. This includes diversifying income sources through the implementation of projects related to infrastructure and small to medium-sized development projects that will meet many of the needs of local markets and create job opportunities for those entering the labor market”, he told North Press.

However, these objectives face many challenges due to a lot of repercussions, most notably the deterioration of the exchange rate of the Syrian pound (SYP) against the US dollar and the decline of purchasing power, in addition to weak investments and a lack of capital inflow into the region due to the instability of security and economy, which in turn affects the productivity level in economic sectors, according to Shawqi.

During the years of war against the Islamic State (ISIS), the northeastern regions of Syria have suffered massive destruction in key sectors, including education, health, agriculture, and economy.

In addition, the Syrian pound witnesses a significant decline in its value against foreign currencies, especially that the exchange rate of the Syrian pound against the US dollar on black market reaches around 14,000 SYP.

On the ground, the AANES regions are the best in terms of individuals’ income, both in public and private sectors, compared to regions held by the Syrian government or the opposition.

Observers believe that the noticeable improvement of the income, reaching approximately $80 as a monthly salary for employees of the AANES, is not enough because a family needs about $200, compared to the economic inflation the country is experiencing.

This is what Shawqi emphasizes, as the increase in inflation levels in the circulating currency raises the cost of production, thus leading to an economic cost increase, which in turn pushes prices to high levels again.

“All of this causes an increase in prices of goods and materials in various markets, affecting people’s living standards due to the decline in consumers’ purchasing power. This is reflected in the contraction of domestic production, leaving negative effects on the local economy, the volume of production, total consumption, investments, and others,” he added.

The co-chair emphasizes that “the bright spot in this scene is that the AANES continues to provide the necessary public services within its capabilities and difficult economic, financial, and political circumstances.”

Concerns and Challenges

The lack of economic growth despite the diverse resources in the AANES areas is justified by several points that hinder the revitalization of the economic sector.

He explains that a group of fundamental challenges faces the AANES areas, most notably “the unstable security situation and ongoing Turkish attacks, which increase concerns among investors, raise the level of investment risks, and affect the volume of investment activity.”

Another issue is the decline in the purchasing power of the Syrian pound, in addition to the financial deficit in the AANES’ budget due to the significant support provided for bread and fuel, according to Shawqi.

Meanwhile, another dilemma facing the administration is “border crossings and the control exercised by other parties over the issue of opening or closing them, as most of these parties impose a siege on the region in one way or another.”

He emphasizes that the failure to open an official crossing with northeastern Syria, such as al-Ya’rubiyah (Tel Kocher) border crossing with Iraq, “also affects the provision of production requirements and technologies or leads to crises in many markets due to the limited flow of goods and commodities to them.”

Tel Kocher border crossing is located on the Syrian- Iraqi border and was the most official crossing between the two countries prior to the Syrian conflict in 2011.

In 2014, the UNSC allowed aid deliveries into Syria through four border-crossings al-Ramtha crossing with Jordan, Bab al-Salameh, Bab al-Hawa with Turkey, and Tel Kocher with Iraq, that are not under the control of Syrian government. However, under pressure of Russia and China, the UNSC reduced them to one in the beginning of 2020, which is the Bab al-Hawa crossing.

The co-chair emphasized that they always demand the opening of Tel Kocher crossing to enable them to officially import products, production supplies, and necessary materials, and to obtain the necessary technology to operate production projects, thus raising the level of economic performance in the region.

“However, what happens is that the open crossings are subject to political bargaining with the AANES by other parties under various names”, he added.

Swedî is the largest electricity plant in the whole region, it supplies energy and gas to more than 2 million people. Because of its essential importance, it is also one of the many sites that have been recently bombed. In response to this and to the risk of new attacks, that could interrupt definitively its electricity production, the population of Derik and the many villages of the region of Koçerata have decided to organize several “days of action”. In these days the people have gather around the plant and other essential infrastructure (the basic needs of the people) to shield and protect them, with their own physical presence, with their own life. In this, as in other cases, in front of this continuous and total war, the society has took initiative and organized itself in order to carry on different forms of resistance, according to the needs of the situation. There, all the people gave a lot of effort. Everybody took part in the organization with different tasks. Some organized the cars to reach the different sites, some gave speeches and others prepared food and coffee for everyone. And of course, then everyone joined the dances.

“We cannot live without soil, without water, without electricity.” Delila told us, a young 22 year old woman who came to the action, “and that’s why we are here today, to show our resistance. And we will resist until the end. We will not leave our land. Even in the face of all the attacks that Erdogan can carry on, we will not go away and not protect these places.” Something very impressive is the spirit of social and collective commitment that the people show, even under the constant threat of new attacks. The responsibility and love that we normally associate from parents to their children, here, is collectivised toward the broader society. Hearing “You are my child” from a mother is not rare, also for us internationalists, this expresses the nature of the community bonds.

The struggle for resistance and self defence takes very different shapes and one of these is the creation of life and the coming together as community. These demonstrations don’t only have the aim of physically protecting specific sites, but even more, these are moments of strengthening the bonds among the people, re-affirming the principles around with which this community exists and wants to build itself: freedom, democracy, multiculturalism, multi-ethnic and religion, resistance.

What we have also asked ourselves is from where the people take the strength to resist from, and from their words, their way of living, we have understood that this comes from the connection with their land, being rooted in it, and from the the connection with ones own cultural and historical roots. This is also what allows people to take the anger and fear that of course everyone feels and transform them in strength and will to resist.

When a drone started flying very low, above the plant and our heads, the people immediately decided to move and make a march inside the plant, spreading out, in a way to occupy a larger portion of the plant, sending in this way a clear message to the Turkish state “We will defend this place, this electricity plant, in every way possible, with our bodies too.”

The contrast was incredibly clear, on one side, above us a drone, a product of high technological war and weaponry industry, was threatening the people present, on the other side, on the ground, the society (young and old woman, workers of the plant, children etc) were together, ready to resist, creating in this way the strongest form of self-defense.

When talking about the situation, the people also share their anger, and aversion towards the coalition “What do they do? They stay there, and look, while we are bombed”, and at the same time the western countries, which through the propaganda describe themselves as democracies, are recognized as the same actors who then sit together with Erdogan and put economical interest before the respect of any human right and thus enable Kurdish genocide.

While the Turkish army, which has recently undergone high losses in the mountains, has decided to take its revenge on the civilians, on the people of NES, trying to divide them from the resistance of the guerrilla, another aspect that has really impressed us was the clarity with which the people, with these actions, re-affirmed this unity and solidarity.

The message that these days of actions, with the words of the speeches, the march and the dances are sending, not just to the Turkish army, but to the whole world, is that the people of NES will not stay silent, will not let their right to live be affected by the enemy. They will continue to struggle for life. Berxwedan Jiyan e [‘Resistance is life’], is an expression of the idea that there is no life without resistance and that to resist is to create new life. Celebrate life despite the hardship, find joy and the will of being together, knowing that only together society can face this heavy situation and not just survive, but create a life that has the colours of all the people.

Internationalist Commune of Rojava,
30.12.2023

Within a span of three days, starting from Dec. 25, 2023, Turkey launched airstrikes and artillery shelling in northeastern Syria. According to the Monitoring and Documentation Department of North Press, the Turkish bombardment targeted a total of 121 sites, with a total of 179 strikes.

All of the targeted sites are located within the areas held by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).

Small projects

The recent wave of airstrikes targeted 33 sites, including an industrial facility in the Allaya neighborhood near a prison that detains militants of the Islamic State (ISIS), Simav printing house, grain silos, a cement facility, a mill, a clothing factory, and the train station in the city of Qamishli. In addition, the Turkish forces bombed the village of Segerka and a cement factory in the village of Shork in the east of Qamishli.

In Amuda, the Turkish strikes targeted Karam wedding hall, Rohlat Alo olive oil factory, and a site on the Amuda-Hasakah road. In addition, the strikes hit the village of Mehrkan in the countryside of Tirbe Spiyeh (al-Qahtaniya) and a car garage in the city of Kobani, northern Syria.

Marwan Gerges, the owner of Karam Wedding Hall, told North Press, “We were celebrating Christmas in our homes when Turkey bombed the hall. I am a Syriac Christian and have no affiliation with any party. The hall was a source of income for seven families, and we suffered significant financial losses.”

On the outskirts of Qamishli, a facility serving as both a mill and a cotton gin in the village of Umm al-Fursan was targeted during working hours, resulting in injuries to two workers and the killing of one female worker.

Ahmad al-Muhaymid, the owner of the facility, told North Press that worker Aya al-Sab’awi was killed in the strike, while two other workers were injured. “We are civilians and have no affiliation with any military or political party. In addition, I have incurred material losses exceeding $10,000,” he said.

A straw factory in Qamishli was also subjected to an attack, leading to the burning of straw and significant damage to machinery, power generators, as well as the interior and exterior ceilings of the factory.

Mazen, the owner of the straw factory, told North Press, “My workshop is a private project located next to my house. Neither my workers nor I have any affiliation with any military group. Fortunately, my 10 workers were not present in the factory during the attack due to the Christmas holiday; otherwise, there would have been casualties. I have incurred material losses exceeding $30,000.”

Halting investment

Given the fact that most of the population of northeastern Syria live below the poverty line, economic researcher Khorshid Alika said that the Turkish attacks have only worsened the situation by targeting vital service facilities. As a result, the region has been rendered devastated, further amplifying the struggles faced by the already impoverished population.

The economic expert further added to North Press that gas, oil, and electricity production will decline in the region, and their prices will increase in the black market. The AANES will not be able to provide them to the people at the required level and consequently, this will affect the lives of the population.

Alika said the Turkish bombardment on the region has led to significant economic repercussions, including a surge in the cost of goods, food products, and transportation due to fuel shortages. Furthermore, the scarcity of fuel has resulted in frequent power outages for the majority of cities and towns in the region, with certain areas experiencing zero hours of electricity per day.

The repercussions of the situation include day laborers facing challenges in securing continuous work opportunities, as well as the complete cessation of construction, urban development, and renovation projects. Moreover, investment in the region has come to a halt, and investors lack the intention to expand their projects abroad.

According to the economic expert, the ongoing Turkish targeting has led to the forced sale of properties and lands belonging to hundreds of families, pushing them to consider migration to Europe as a means to escape the dire circumstances. Additionally, individuals who had previously purchased lands and properties in the region, while residing abroad, now intend to sell their investments and redirect their capital overseas.

The expert holds that Turkey’s deliberate targeting of the region’s infrastructure aim at hindering the AANES from utilizing available resources to finance its budget, support service institutions, and pay their employees. This strategy attempts to portray the AANES as a failed entity incapable of effectively managing its regions.

A new social contract came into force in Northern and Eastern Syria on Wednesday. This social contract is intended to do justice to the developments of the past eleven years and includes, among other things, the institution of women’s councils.

The General Assembly of the Autonomous Administration of Northern and Eastern Syria ratified on Tuesday the draft of a new social contract, after all 134 articles were approved by the representatives of relevant bodies were discussed individually.

The social contract is based on an ecological–democratic and women’s liberation paradigm, communal economy, self-government, social justice and a democratic confederation of councils. Stêr Bişar Qasim, member of the Women’s Council of Northern and Eastern Syria, was a member of the Preparatory Commission for the Social Contract. She told ANF that the social contract already guarantees the rights of the ethnic and religious identities that live together as brothers and sisters in Northern and Eastern Syria. However, a new agreement became necessary because certain deficiencies existed and newer developments were not taken into account.

The women’s councils are now described in the social contract, and articles have been introduced to make the work of the economic, health, education and other committees more effective. Qasim said: “There was a need to incorporate the experiences of the eleven years of revolution and the associated changes into the social contract.”

“Constitutional guarantee of all differences”

Stêr Bişar Qasim said that in Northern and Eastern Syria there are various ethnic identities such as Kurds, Arabs, Armenians, Assyrians, Circassians, Chechens, as well as religious identities such as Muslims, Christians, Jews and Yazidis. She added that, “therefore, it was necessary to protect the rights of different ethnic and religious identities and build a common life. The social contract approved by the Autonomous Administration is a contract in accordance with the principle of the democratic nation. It was implemented with the consent of all segments of society and with the participation of representatives of all institutions, organizations, religions, denominations and peoples. It was unacceptable for only one national identity to prevail and other nations to remain in a minority position. The social contract secured the rights of the various ethnic, religious and denominational identities.”

“Renewal from healthcare to the economy”

Stêr Bişar Qasim underlined that nothing has changed in the principles. A new system is envisaged that meets the needs of the region – from the municipality to the council, from economics to finance, from healthcare to education.

Reorganization of the cantons

Qasim spoke about the reform of regional organization in the form of cantons: “The system was changed to seven cantons, namely Jazira, Firat, Raqqa, Tabqa, Deir ez-Zor, Manbij and Afrin–Shehba. All articles of the social contract are important. The topics of education and health were also discussed in detail. In building a more organized life based on direct democracy, no step can be taken without the people. Discussions have been held to improve people’s lives and shape the education and learning system to create an organized and conscious society.”

“The goal is a democratic republic”

Stêr Bişar Qasim said that “as the social contract states, it is about building a democratic Syria. We are creating a model that is far from an autocratic system. The results of the centralist system in Syria are clear to us. The rights of various ethnic, religious and national identities were violated. For this reason, we have identified the Syrian Democratic Republic as our goal both in our discussions and in this social contract. In addition, the treaty can be changed if an agreement is reached on a democratic constitution in Syria. Democracy is a system that focuses attention on community life, based on equality and justice, guided by the decision of the people and placing coexistence at its core.”