A group of women from Rojhelat in a statement strongly condemned the irreverent and complex words of Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) peshmargas regarding female guerrillas and requested women of other political parties of Rojhelat to take stance. In their statement they criticized the initial nationalist thoughts of classic movements and their attitude towards women and consider publishing of the video of insulting revolutionary women as result of perverted mentality of so-called fighters who are far from their society.
The statement is as follow:
Statement of women of Rojhelat in condemning humiliating and retrogressive thoughts
In recent days the virtual world (Internet) was the witness to publish of a video of PDKI peshmargas which in that video they insult and humiliate some of female fighters which irreverent and complex words. In a part of that video one of PDKI peshmargas with a contemptuous tone use the phrase “hevals (comrades) with no testicle” for pointing to female Guerrilla fighters. Such kind of insults, which reveals the peak of linguistic sexism and masculine thoughts, from one side this is a tool to reduce the political and combatant identities of these women to sexual objects only and from other side it is denial of every kind of independent definition of women without referencing to men’s sexuality desires.
Such approach is not limited to this party, many times we have been witness of such approached from other political parties of Kurdistan as well. The truth is these people, despite of their experience in symbolic, political or military confrontation with central governments, they were not able to take distance from masculine structure and sexism of the society and they reproduce the same male dominated speech of sovereignty with different words. Their view on woman and topic of sexuality is polluted with the same anti-woman stereotypes and perceptions that we are witnessing in the most masculine and incognizant parts of the society. However, despite of nationalism as guidance of most of political movements of Iranian Kurdistan, such humiliation would not be so unexpected because Kurdish nationalism and its limited view to women as a tool always had a main role in supporting this perspective. For this reason, still the sexism is part of sociability of Kurdish fighters despite of a century of Kurdish nationalism struggle. Fighters who should be the example and pattern for other people in the society for manner and speech, in a regressive process not only they are unable to become a pattern but also they are lagging behind from the society.
But today, women in Kurdistan’s society have reached a high level of awareness and sense so they will not be silent against unrealistic and party-oriented excuses such as “national cause, is the main and last priority”, “women’s freedom is depend on the freedom of nationalism movement”, “by bringing on the violence against women, we just help the enemy”, “other women also exposed to such violence and it is not only limited to us” and will not ignore such humiliations against women. As choosing silence not only close the ways on any kind of criticism but also sacrifice the necessity of fundamental changes in society and authoritarian organizations in favour of short term goals of party.
We as part of women of Rojhelat while protesting the normalized sexism in different political movements of Kurdistan, frankly condemn the anti-women words and views in the published video and expecting the “Union of Democratic Women of Iranian Kurdistan” (KDPI’s women’s wing) according to the same principles it was created, hear the voice of this protest. This is the appearance of accountability and commitment of women in Kurdish political parties especially in committees with such names that in situations like this by taking the necessary sensitivity and appropriate stand, show that they will not be silent against gender oppression and will not let requested equality beliefs be sacrificed for the party’s benefits under any circumstances. Despite of intellectual and political differences, it is essential all Kurdish women reach a consensus that whatever promote the reproduction of unequal gender structures must be criticised. Accordingly we hope this statement with a good will and far from political conflicts could help and receive an appropriate answer.
1. Nahîd Mukrî, 2. Mehîn Şukrullapur, 3. Seher Dînarewend, 4. Prwane Kerîmî, 5. Awa Enwerî, 6. Fatime Kerîmi, 7. Ronak Ferhen, 8. Ferzane Celalî, 9. Beyan Mehmûdî, 10. Sema Şamlu, 11. Someye Rostempur, 12. Efsane Beheştîzade, 13. Hawjîn Beqalî, 14. Azade Rehmanî, 15. Nêgîn Azerî, 16. Sergul Hesenî, 17. Firmêsk Zahidî, 18. Nêgîn Wetendust, 19. Azer Tahêrabadî, 20. Hîwa Xidrî, 21. Şeyda Yusifpur, 22. Sirur Fatêhî, 23. Şehîn Xulamî, 24. Meryem Fethî, 25. Êlham Razyanî, 26. Nêgîn Wetenî, 27. Fatime Ebdî, 28. Zeyneb Bayezîdî, 29. Hoda Selîmî, 30. Jîla Ehmedî, 31. Şehîn Mihemedî, 32. Serşîn Qadirî, 33. Kejal Heyderî, 34. Zîba Ekberî, 35. Kiwêstan Emînî, 36. Çinûr Seîdî, 37. Ferzabe Xalidî, 38. Derya Menuçehrî, 39. Gulale Xizrî, 40. Şeyda Muradî, 41. Semer Fatimî, 42. Leyla Enayetzade, 43. Fezîlet Xudamuradî, 44. Ferehnaz Mîrwanî, 45. Ferîda Narîn, 46. Çinûr Enayetzade, 47. Arezu Îmamî, 48. Ferîde Rehîmî, 49. Ferîde Rezayî, 50. Firişte Behmenî, 51. Semîre Xefurî
Rojhelat.info