History is not merely a witness to eras of darkness; it is also a witness to the resistance that shatters that darkness. Kobanê is not merely a city in the memory of humanity; it is a line of honour and resistance, a battlefield where life triumphed over death, and a stronghold of the unique resistance of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ).
During the years when waves of darkness swept across the world and brutal gangs sought to destroy humanity, Kobanê became the place where the star of freedom rose once again. In its streets, coloured with the blood of heroes, the will of free women demonstrated that no force of darkness could stand against the aspiration for a free life. Just as Arîn Mîrkan, through her sacrificial act, turned the towers of this city into beacons of light, heroic commanders and comrades such as Gêlhat, Diyar Bagok, Rêvan, Herdem, Destîna Qendîl, Viyan Peyman, Zehra, and Îvana Hûvmên also became symbols of this struggle. Today, every woman in the Women’s Protection Units follows in their sacred footsteps.
What made the resistance of Kobanê an unprecedented epic was the unity and national consciousness of our people.
During that historic period, Kobanê became a symbol of national unity, not only through the heroism of its people, but also through the dignified stance and enthusiastic participation of young women and men from all four parts of Kurdistan (North, South, East, and West), from Serhed to Botan, and from Germiyan and Hewlêr to Mahabad and Sine. Particularly significant was the support and uprising of the people of North Kurdistan, which continued for several days along the border. Thousands of freedom volunteers crossed the drawn borders and fought shoulder to shoulder with the fighters of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) and the People’s Protection Units (YPG) against the forces of darkness. This stance demonstrated that the heart of Kurdistan beats as one in Kobanê.
At the same time, Kobanê became the conscience of the world. On November 1, when people across the world took to the streets, from Paris to Berlin, from New York to Abya Yalla, and from Tokyo to Amed and Qamişlo, chanting, “We are all Kobanê,” they demonstrated that the resistance of Kobanê was not the resistance of the Kurds alone, but the resistance of all freedom-loving humanity. This global solidarity was the force that shattered the darkness of ISIS.
As the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), on November 1, World Kobanê Day, we reaffirm that the resistance of Kobanê is the foundation of our people’s victory and proof of our free unity. This epic demonstrated that women are capable of organising themselves in accordance with the philosophy of “Woman, Life, Freedom”, and that our people, united around this line across the four parts of Kurdistan, are capable of changing the destiny of an entire century.
On this basis, we bow in reverence before the memory of all our heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives so that we may live proudly on this land today.
Our pledge to our martyrs and our patriotic people is that we will defend the path of resistance until the very end, uphold the achievements of this land, strengthen national unity, and turn our homeland into a beacon of light in the face of every form of darkness.
Long live the unity of women and freedom-loving peoples!
Martyrs Never Die!
General Command of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ)
November 1 – World Kobanê Day
1.11.2026
