My name is Dinya Ronahî. I was born in Shengal and am 27 years old. In 2016, I joined the YJŞ (Shengal Women’s Units). The main reason for this was my desire to do something for my people, and especially for Yazidi women and girls. I wanted to take revenge for the Yazidi women. I grew up as a Yazidi woman in Shengal and witnessed the pain and consequences of the 2014 genocide with my own eyes. Many women were killed, abducted, and sold. To this day, the whereabouts of thousands of women remain unknown. These experiences sparked great anger within me and a strong desire to resist. I lived with a deep hatred for the enemy. I didn’t want to live just for myself, but to take responsibility for my people and for the women. At the same time, the women of the YPJ and YJA-Star made a deep impression on me. When I saw them with weapons and ammunition belts and witnessed how they came to defend and liberate Yazidi women, it gave me hope, morale, and strength. For us, they were an example: We, as Yazidi women, can defend ourselves against the enemy. These experiences influenced my decision to join this cause and later become part of the YJŞ. The Importance of the YPJ for YJŞ The YPJ plays a crucial role in defending Yazidi women and in building YJŞ. The YPJ has given us strength, confidence, morale, enthusiasm, and hope. The foundation for building YJŞ was also laid by the efforts and sacrifices of the women who fell in battle. The genocide against the Yazidis took place before the eyes of the world. Aside from the YPJ, YJA-Star, and some other comrades, no one raised their voice or responded to it. The women of the YPJ made great sacrifices and gave themselves to protect and save the Yazidi people, and women in particular. They also played a vital role and made great efforts in the establishment of YJŞ. That is why the foundation of YJŞ is the YPJ, and the YPJ has become a driving force for YJŞ. They have helped Yazidi women develop confidence in their own abilities and cultivate their own sense of agency. We have grown under the influence of their ideas and philosophy. Because as women, we feel a bond with one another; we give each other strength and courage. That is why we cannot separate the history of YJŞ from the history and contributions of the YPJ. Without the experiences and support provided by the YPJ, the development of YJŞ would not have been the same. At the same time, both complement each other as forces of resistance and as structures that take responsibility for women and their society. We, as YJŞ—as Yazidi women—recognize that if the YPJ did not exist, neither would we. That is why we always stand by the YPJ, and they are always in our hearts. Whatever may come, no one can wipe out the YPJ. The YPJ has built itself up through its resistance, its own construction, its martyrs, and the sacrifices that have been made. That is why, in Sinjar today, the things that are happening—the will, the existence, and the standing that the women of Sinjar possess—have become known throughout the world. And all the women who were liberated and freed from the enemy’s clutches—the YPJ is the reason for that as well. That is why we say that we will always stand by the YPJ’s side. And our existence is linked to that of the YPJ. And we always say that the role and mission of the YPJ can never be forgotten or denied. Because wherever it was necessary, the YPJ has taken on responsibility. Just as they took on responsibility in 2014, they are there for all women. The Current Situation in Shengal Today, Yazidi women in Shengal continue to face major challenges. Attacks against women and a special warfare are taking place. We are in the midst of a major struggle—both against military forces and against TAJE (Freedom’s Movement of Êzidî Women). Pressure on women persists, as do attempts to undermine their will, their existence, and their self-determination. If we do not defend ourselves, educate ourselves, and secure our existence in Shengal—and, above all, if our existence is not recognized in Iraq—we will always be face to face with ferman (genocide). There will always be a way for genocide against women to occur. This is the situation facing Yazidi women. Every day—even when we look at the situation worldwide—women are being killed, and women are committing suicide. For this reason, the YJŞ also faces the task of securing women’s existence and bringing it to light, continuing to educate itself, and taking responsibility for the women in Shengal. If women have no way to defend themselves and determine their own existence, the danger remains that crimes such as the 2014 genocide will be repeated. That is why it is important to us that Yazidi women develop their own will and be able to determine their own existence. YJŞ has made great efforts in this regard. The organization was built through the work, dedication, and sacrifices of many women. It has taken on responsibility for the women in Shengal and helped build trust and self-confidence. Today, we see that women in Shengal are playing a stronger role. We therefore continue to see a close connection between the YPJ and the YJŞ. The experiences the YPJ has gained and shared have shaped us. Its role in the liberation of women and in building an independent women’s movement must not be forgotten. The Importance of Self-Defense For us, self-defense is of fundamental importance. Every living being has the right to defend itself. For a long time, however, women were denied this right. As women, we had no rights. Women were left without adequate protection and without the ability to determine their own lives and futures. That is why, for us, self-defense is more important and necessary than bread and water. And just as much, we as women have the right to defend ourselves. Our people have the right to defend themselves. For Yazidi women, this reality became particularly clear through the events of 2014. If we had been able to defend ourselves back then—if we had been a military force and possessed the knowledge and means of existence that we have today—we would not have faced such a mass murder. So many women would not have fallen into the hands of the enemy, and the genocide could not have taken place in this form. That is why self-defense is very important to us as Yazidi women. We must defend ourselves against any form of domination that suppresses our will and our existence—regardless of whether it originates from the state, patriarchal structures, or men. The defense of women and the defense of society are interconnected and go hand in hand. If women have no way to protect themselves and take on responsibility, society as a whole remains defenseless. A society cannot fully exist without the active participation and will of women. For us, self-defense is a paramount duty, so that we can defend ourselves and defend our society. These are our efforts. That is why we view self-defense as a fundamental task. It stems from will, knowledge, awareness, and mutual trust. In Shengal, we have seen tremendous progress in this regard. The women of today are no longer the same as they were in 2014. The women of Shengal now play a very strong role because they have understood that without defense—without legitimate self-defense—they cannot live, because otherwise women’s very existence would be destroyed. And those in authority fear women’s defense and their ideas, which is why they constantly attack women. That is why defense is the most important thing for us and our society. The experiences of the YPJ have shown us the way forward. That is why, as Yazidi women, we continue to feel connected to the women of the YPJ. Whatever happens in the future, the experiences, sacrifices, and resistance of these women will remain part of our history and have had a lasting impact on the development of women in Shengal.

We are in the Middle of the third world war. No matter if you take a closer look to Europa, the Middle East, Asia or the African continent. Wars and armed conflicts are on the forefront. Wars, especially waged by states, are primarily driven by economic interests (oil reserves and other natural resources) and fighting for supremacy (e.g., proxy wars during the Cold War until today). Wars are sometimes justified on so-called humanitarian grounds, such as the defence of women’s or human rights, or as preventive strikes. Yet even here it is evident that those who suffer most from wars are ultimately women and children, while whole societies get destroyed. War brings no good to anyone, except profit for the military-industrial complex. Furthermore, historically speaking and up to the present day, war has been waged predominantly by men, as they have been at the head of kingdoms, empires, or states. Underlying this is a patriarchal mindset characterised by oppression, destruction and division, and the notion that one life is more valuable than another. Wars and conflicts, however, have never gone unanswered. Women and women’s organizations are known, both historically and today, for playing a major role in peace processes and peace movements. One example is the International Conference of Socialist Women Against War, held in Bern in 1915 under the leadership of Clara Zetkin, which was directed against World War I. The Peace Mothers in Turkey/Northern Kurdistan, the “Madres de la Paz” (Mothers of Peace) in Colombia, and the Women for Peace in East and West Germany in the 1980s are also examples of the role women play in the struggle for peace. Women also play a major role in peace processes among indigenous populations, such as the women of the Igbo culture in Nigeria, who can enforce peace, or the Council of Mothers of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois Confederacy), who hold a veto over war and can also depose a leader should he fail to act in the interests of peace and society. So, if it is primarily men who wage wars, and women who stand up for peace, how can a women’s army that also participates in war—such as the YPJ—be seen as a symbol of peace? Why should women become part of this murderous war system? The war in Syria in early 2011, the war against ISIS and other jihadist forces, was not a chosen war by YPJ. Waging war was never the goal of the women of the YPJ. The goal, with which the democratic and, at that time, primarily Kurdish forces set out, was a third way: a way out of the crisis and the war. A path that neither sought a Syrian state under the Ba’ath Party nor wished to surrender to the jihadist movements of Al-Qaeda, ISIS and others. A third way beyond a dictatorial state and jihadism: namely a diverse society that organizes itself based on the values of women’s liberation, ecology, and true democracy. Taking up arms was not an expression of a desire for war, but rather a necessity to defend precisely this path, this vision. Not to fight in this case would have meant silence and submission to one of the other paths—a retreat. But silence and stillness must not be confused with peace. An example: A family is not peaceful simply because the wife remains silent in the face of her husband’s violence. And a family is not destroyed simply because the wife defends herself against this. It was already broken beforehand, and what appeared peaceful on the outside was in reality the woman’s submission and humiliation. And the same is true for peoples. A country is not at peace simply because there is no war. When a people rises up from humiliation, denial, and non-existence within this supposed peace, this is not a sign of war, but a sign of human dignity. And of course, in doing so, the weapon should always be the last choice, when all other democratic ways have failed. Protecting one’s own life and the lives of others in society—and this refers not only to physical existence but to a life lived with dignity—is self-defense. Just like every living being, whether it is a plant or an animal, it has its own means and ways of protecting and defending itself against attacks. It is something natural. And likewise, it is a natural right for humans and societies to defend themselves. The YPJ was and remains an army of self-defense, not of aggression. The YPJ has never launched attacks on its own initiative. Its own existence, the existence of society, democracy, women’s liberation, and nature must be defended; that is why we speak of an army that stands for peace and democracy, not for destruction. And this is what makes YPJ unique compared to other armies, in which women may also take place as individuals, but where the army acts in the interests of the capitalist and patriarchal system. There may be women in other armies, but the mentality remains the same. Unlike other (state) armies, the YPJ does not carry out attacks on other territories. It is not about oppression, exploitation or gaining supremacy but about the mentality of self-defense. YPJ is and was always more than women taking up arms. It was women organizing themselves and cultivating the culture of self-defense in all its diverse ways. The goal of integrating the YPJ into the Syrian army is to spread precisely these values throughout Syria and to ensure that true peace and a dignified life is possible. And that is why it is not a contradiction to be against war and in favor of YPJ, and the slogans “No more war” and “We are all YPJ” are therefore not opposites but are intertwined.

This brochure traces the struggle against ISIS and the vital role that the YPJ played in this fight for peace and democracy, as well as giving tribute to the fallen YPJ fighters. Without the self-sacrificing struggle of thousands of Martyrs, ISIS would not have been defeated and humanity would have been exposed to an even greater thread. To read the full brochure en italiano en español

 The politician, patriot and defender of his people’s rights, Salih Muslim, has passed away. Today is a very sorrowful day for us. First of all, we would like to express our condolences to the family of the honourable Salih Muslim and to all our patriotic people. Salih Muslim’s struggle and character became benchmarks of true patriotism for us. He dedicated every moment of his life to the great sacrifice of serving his people. Salih Muslim made a great contribution to the Rojava Revolution and led his society with the ideas of Apoism. He leaves behind a proud legacy of struggle. He was a dedicated and self-sacrificing person, striving for a free life from the early years of the Kurdish freedom struggle on until his last breath. He took part in the struggle for freedom alongside his family and, with his scholarly and principled political character, held a highly esteemed position within his community. He possessed a high level of expertise in political and social affairs. He had extensive insights and analyses of the region’s politics. Salih Muslim had built his personality on the ideas and philosophy of Apoism. Especially in recent times, despite his health condition, he never stopped working for the freedom of his people, always remaining among his community. He stood up for the duty of a free person in all circumstances and never compromised on his people’s freedom. During the Rojava Revolution, he held significant roles; Salih Muslim was a politician, a patriot, and the father of a martyr and fighters. Salih Muslim, with his entire being, was the voice of his people’s truth. The courage and steadfastness of Salih Muslim, in obtaining democracy and freedom for our people, will serve as the benchmark for the struggle for a free and dignified life. In the face of women’s quest for freedom, he demonstrated his respect for life through his steadfastness and became a true comrade of women. For this reason, as the Women’s Protection Units, it is our primary duty to realize the martyrs’ dreams through the person of the fighter Salih Muslim. We will keep the life and struggle of Salih Muslim alive in our hearts and minds forever. General Commandership of YPJ 12.03.2026

On 2 March 2026, Iraqi women’s rights activist Yanar Mohammed was assassinated outside her home in Baghdad. This is not an isolated incident. Time and again, women who play a leading role in society are targeted and murdered. Examples include Rosa Luxemburg, Nagihan Arkasel, Jiyan Tolhildan, Sakine Canzis and Berta Caceres, who represent thousands of women. These are not attacks against individual women, but rather attacks against the goals of freedom, equality and the vision that another world is possible. A vision and a struggle that is particularly significant in these days, when the attempt to create a new Middle East is no less important. Yanar Mohammed, who was born in Baghdad in 1960 and lived in Toronto for several years, was an architect, human rights activist and one of Iraq’s most prominent feminist voices. She was a co-founder of the Organisation Women’s Freedom in Iraq (OWFI) and campaigned for democracy, women’s rights and social justice for many years. She was particularly committed to helping women who were victims of violence, forced marriage and human trafficking. With her help, shelters were set up where hundreds of women found refuge. Despite repeated threats and public incitement, she continued her work unabated. We condemn this attack and remember Yanar Mohammed with honor. And we know that her path will be continued by thousands. The spirit and struggle of free women cannot be killed.

As women, what characteristics do we need in order to defend ourselves? Read the full interview with YPJ commander Nesrin Abdullah about young women and self-defense here.

In December 2024, there was not only a change of power in Syria. At the same time, the Turkish state and its allied militias attacked the self-administration of North and East Syria. At Tishreen Dam, due the great resistance of the people, YPJ & QSD these attacks were stopped.    

On the occasion of 25.11., the day against violence against women,we remember all women who fought and are still fighting against violence and all kinds of oppression. They are a heritage and inspiration to make everyday a day to fight for a just world where women can exist in a true way.    

Self-defense and building a democratic society are two essential pillars for ensuring stability and freedom. Only together, we will be able to create a secure, just, and dignified future for every member of society. But what exactly does self-defense mean? And how does it relate to establishing a democratic society? What role do women play in this? Women from Kongra Star, the Women Protection Units YPJ and the Beth Nahrin’s Women’s Protection Forces discuss these important topics. This project was a cooperation between YPJ Information and Documentation Office, Kongra Star and Women Defend Rojava.

Every shot fired by the YPJ is a shot fired in defense of dignity and life. In this short video we remember other shots, also fired in defense of life like the ones fired on August 15, 1984. On this day the sound of gunfire proved and ensured the existence of the Kurdish people, despite all attempts to wipe them out. https://ypj-info.org/wp-content/uploads/15-Tabaxe-inglisi-1.mp4

On the occasion of the revolution in Rojava on July 19 2025, we spoke to two female YPJ fighters.   https://ypj-info.org/wp-content/uploads/Salvegera-Soresa-Rojava_inglisi.mp4

On 09.12.2024 the women struggle reached new heights. On this day Dilda Welat, Cudî Tolhildan, Axîn Koçer, Sema Hesekê and Tolhildan Serêkanîyê fought a great struggle against the approaching militias.  Tolhildan Serêkanîyê felt martyr in the fight. Dilda Welat, Cudî Tolhildan, Axîn Koçer and Sema Hesekê fought until their last bullet. Then they decided to use a hand grenade to explode themselves and the approaching enemy.  With this action they continued the line of of martyr Zilan, who herself wrote a new chapter of women struggle on 30 June 1996. With her self-sacrificial action in the heart of the enemy she showed that the enemy is not invincible. With gratitude we remember martyr Zilan, the self-sacrifice of women fighters in Mimbic and all the women who gave their lives for the cause of freedom and justice.   https://ypj-info.org/wp-content/uploads/final.mp4