NEWS CENTER - Witnessing the Kobanê revolution, which reshaped the world with historical resistance led by women, Eylem Ataş from YPJ said that the freedom of Rojava and the North East Syria region owes to the ideological foundation that Abdullah Öcalan imagined and described. Eylem said, "Rojava is important for revolutions around the world because women here have shown that not only a woman-centered revolution is possible, but successful and truly democratic revolutions are only possible with the liberation of women."

The historical resistance against ISIS attacks in Kobanê in 2014 has been the subject of many works to date. The last of these is “Touching Freedom”.

 

In 2014, Kurdish students Jenkidar and Hussein embarked on a journey from Beirut that will change their lives in ways they never imagined. The journey takes them from their carefree student life in Beirut to their beloved hometown of Kobanê. They decide to document the Kurdish resistance against ISIS, using film cameras as a means of struggle.

 

The two friends, who introduced us one by one to those who sacrificed their lives for the revolution while trying to defend their country, will no longer be able to stay in Kobanê when the conflict intensifies. Two friends go to Barcelona and Paris, trying to tell the world about this journey that changed their lives forever.

 

Swedish filmmaker Manal Masri, whose roots are in Lebanon, transfers the Kobanê images shot by two students to the film screen and presents the resistance and the story of these students, who witnessed the resistance, to the audience under the title “Touching Freedom”.

 

Manal, Jenkidar and Hussein, who filmed the story on site and also conveyed it to us, answered our questions.

 

'It also reveals the Kurds' struggle for independence'

 

*Did you shoot the videos on site or did you use the videos that came to you? Have you been to Kobene?

 

Manal: I met Hussein and Jenkidar in Beirut and they had already been to Kobane and filmed. They had this unique material with an inside perspective. They turned the camera on the people around them in Kobane and I turned the camera on them. I filmed them for about two years. It was important that it was their story that I as a filmmaker was helping them to share with the world. 

 

*What is the main subject of your movie? What message are you giving? Could you give information about the release date? 

 

Manal: In 2014 the two Kurdish students Jenkidar and Hussein starts a journey with an unexpected amount of life changing twists and turns. It takes them from a careless student life in Beirut to their beloved hometown of Kobani. Here they pick up video cameras for the first time in their lives and document the Kurdish resistance against ISIS.  The film gives a unique insight into how ordinary people became soldiers defending themselves against isis, and it shows the Kurdish struggle for independence.  The film will have a sneak premiere on World Kobane Day, nov 1 in Malmö city, Sweden. The cinema will premiere in Sweden  January 27  2023. 

 

 

*What affected you the most in the Kobanê War?

 

Jenkidar: The thing that affected me the most was the loss of my family and friends. Because many people who were dear to my heart died in this war, and the homes of the people were destroyed and thousands of people were displaced. This war had no mercy on anyone. All families were affected and almost 80% of the city was completely destroyed. 

 

*Why did you feel the need to shoot such a movie/documentary, what prompted you to do it?

 

 Manal: I felt that it's a really important story to tell. I was very affected by the images of the young people fighting for their freedom and one by one they were losing their lives. I think it's really important not to forget about them and the sacrifice they made. Also I felt that this story also highlights the Kurdish struggle that is still very much on going. 

 

 

*Do you think that the democratic nation system in Kobanê, that is, a system based on the coexistence of different peoples without a state system, is this idea that makes Kobanê attractive? 

 

Hussein: Yes, in addition to that, Kobanî has become a symbol of steadfastness and resistance because it resisted the terrorist organization ISIS on behalf of the whole world and was able to defeat that organization despite the lack of great capabilities and heavy weapons, so the citizens of Kobanî were able to defeat that organisation by their strong will, in addition to that Kobanî It was the beginning of the end of ISIS, because from the battle of Kobani, ISIS began to recede and be defeated, and also the democratic nation system in Kobanî , all this ideas make Kobanî attractive.

 

 

*Why is the Rojava Revolution called a women's revolution, why did women embrace it so much? 

 

Hussein: The Rojava revolution was called the women's revolution, because women were active and influential in this revolution. Kurdish women were side by side fighting with men to defend the city, and Kurdish women have been known since ages to be strong, strong-willed and decision-makers, and through the Rojava Revolution confirmed to the whole world that the Kurdish woman is no less important than the man and that Kurdish woman is able to lead the revolutions. Kurdish woman also made it clear to the whole world that there is a democratic model in the Middle East and that women are equal to men, in addition to the fact that there are many women who have become a symbol of resistance in Kobanî, such as the martyr Arîn Mêrkan, who sacrificed herself to save her comrades, and there are many other women who have become a symbol of resistance.

 

*What message does the democratic system developed in Kobanê give to the world? 

 

Hussein: The message that the democratic system in Kobanî sends to the world is that there is a democratic system in the Middle East and there is equality between men and women, and that women are decision-makers, army leaders, ministers...etc. Because in Rojava now there is a system of co-presidency, so all government institutions, organizations and official departments must have two presidents, a woman and a man, and also there must be at least 50 percent of women in the government and parliament. We conclude from this that the message is that the rest of the world must learn from the democracy that exists in Rojava and they must support this unique democratic experiment in the Middle East.