When ISIS launched an attack on Kobanê in 2014, citizens from all cities of Kurdistan flocked to the border of Kobanê against the attacks. The vigil at the border, which has become one of the important events where the spirit of unity among the Kurds manifested itself, was started almost 10 years later, this time against the attacks of Turkey and its Syrian National Army (SNA) against North and East Syria. 

 

The  Peace Mothers, who participated in the vigil at the border in 2014 against ISIS attacks and witnessed the resistance and liberation of Kobanê, demanded that the same attitude be shown against the new attacks. Hanım Babat (68), one of the Peace Mothers who went to the Kobanê border in 2014, stated that they are always ready to resist and said that everyone who calls themselves “I am a human being” should protect Rojava. 

 

'WE MUST EMBRACE KOBANÊ IN THE SPIRIT OF 2014'

 

Describing what happened at that time, Hanım Babat said: “At that time, there were calls to embrace Kobanê. We, as mothers from Botan, rushed to the border of Kobanê. We stood guard there. We were cooking for the people who came there to protect human dignity, and we were sending the funerals to their hometowns en masse. I stayed there for 6 days. But then, 2 days after I returned, we went there again. When we were on guard there, they were burning our tents and attacking us with pepper gas every day. Young people were breaking the border fence and crossing to Kobanê. ISIS was attacking us on the other side of the border and the military and police were attacking us on this side. However, we mothers did not recognize these obstacles and continued to defend Kobanê. We need to embrace Kobanê again with the spirit of 2014.” 

 

Stating that a Kurdish alliance should be established in the four parts of Kurdistan, Hanım Babat demanded that the gains of the Kurdish peoples should be embraced with the alliance to be established. 

 

"We are ready to do whatever we have to do. Our call to the four parts of Kurdistan: Unite. Just as we took care of our children and Kobanê then, we must take care of them again. We will protect Rojava as long as we live. Now vigils have started again at the borders of Kobanê and Qamishlo. We all need to participate again. Success is ours, victory belongs to the peoples. At that time, we supported the Rojava revolution with our shouts and became a force,” Hanım Babat said.   

 

'WE MOTHERS ARE READY TO SHOULDER THE PROCESS'

 

Emine Alkış, one of those who witnessed the historic period of the ISIS attack at the border, stated that these days will also be historic. Emine Alkış said: “In 2014, the people stood up and a mobilization was launched. Women, young and old people stood up together and defended Kobanê. I stayed at the border for 7 days. We mothers were cooking on the one hand and supporting on the other. If we do not embrace it with the same spirit today, we will go back 100 years further. Today is the day of freedom. Kobanê is not alone. Their mothers, that is, we are there. We mothers are ready. Our call to our people: Do not accept. The day is the day of unity. Let all four parts be united.” 

 

'UNITE YOUR HANDS'

 

Rihan Arsu (70), one of the Peace Mothers said that she witnessed the Rojava revolution at the border at that time and she called for participation in the vigil action started at the border between Qamishlo and Kobanê.

 

“I stayed at the border for 8 days. We went there for peace, equality and freedom. As mothers, we will do our part in this process. We mothers from Botan are calling out to all mothers from Kurdistan: Put your hands together. This war must end now. We cannot succeed without unity. We mothers are ready to take responsibility for this process and we will do our part in this process. Everyone should act with this sensitivity and there should be an alliance. If we are not united, we will not succeed,” Rihan Arsu said. 

 

MA / Zeynep Durgut