Rojava: A Flicker of Hope in the Darkness of the Middle East

Author: Fuad Mariwani

Rojava: A Flicker of Hope in the Darkness of the Middle East 

The Middle East, whether in the ancient world due to its unique geographical position as a hub of land routes and natural resources, or in the modern era because of its energy reserves, has always held significance for people across the globe.

Unfortunately, where immense profit and power converge, fierce competition driven by greed inevitably arises. Throughout history, the most ruthless and avaricious individuals in the Middle East have risked war to seize power. “Power,” akin to a deity for whom much blood has been sacrificed, grew more sacred by the day. Over time, this greed and self-interest became shrouded in an aura of sanctity, making access to power increasingly difficult for competitors.

Without exception, all Middle Eastern regimes have tied themselves, to varying degrees, to religious or ideological sanctity. The Islamic State (ISIS) perhaps epitomized this fusion. Yet, there exists a law in nature—perhaps the foundation of all transformation and creation—that “every condition creates its own alternative.”

Abdullah Öcalan, through his lifelong struggle with the Kurdish issue, was forced to confront the most dogmatic regimes. His experiences crystallized into ideas that, during ISIS’s onslaught, birthed a resistance force. This force’s organizational and combat methods proved far more democratic than those of nations that had spent decades theorizing about democracy and investing vast resources into its practice.

The mere existence of such a force”and ’ts Implementation of a democratic system poses, first and foremost, a threat to regional dictatorships. Secondly, its achievements humiliate the democratic political structures outside the Middle East. For these reasons, it faces relentless attacks—militarily and ideologically—and is subjected to a media blackout. This silence enables the Syrian Taliban and Turkey’s neo-Ottoman regime to unleash atrocities upon the people of Rojava and its freedom fighters.

Some analysts may believe the path to freedom is inevitable, and that those fighting for liberty will ultimately triumph. But in reality, this is not the case. The flame of resistance can easily be extinguished; movements can fail, and human civilization does not always march toward freedom. History is replete with documented failures, and countless more have been erased from records altogether. Only when we accept this truth do we grasp the urgency of using every available means to protect and spread the fire of liberation. A sense of historical responsibility emerges precisely from this understanding.

States, regardless of ideology, are allies to one another. This is starkly evident in the case of Rojava: some collaborate to ensure its failure, while others turn a blind eye. Meanwhile, the masses are so alienated that they consume only what the mainstream media feeds them. Many who do see the truth either feel powerless, dismiss activism as futile, or absolve themselves by believing freedom will “naturally” prevail. This is compounded by divisive ideologies sown for decades by states.

The truth Is, the emergence of a s”stem’like Rojava in the heart of the Middle East’s darkness is a once-in-a-century phenomenon—a culmination of humanity’s age-old struggle against oppressive systems. No advocate of freedom can remain indifferent. Today, everyone has access to media, the very tool this movement needs. Each person must take responsibility: amplify the voices of Rojava’s fighters, reach as many as possible, and refuse to let this spark die in silence.