How A Kurdish War Scarf Became A Symbol Of Epic Resistance!

KURDISH history has no written laws, but Kurds are an ancient people and there have always been unwritten customs and traditions. If, despite assimilation into foreign states, they have yet retained their own Kurdish values, it is thanks to those unwritten, but sacred, customs and traditions. Traditions that were upheld by Kurdish women.

According to one of these traditions, whenever there was a dispute between two sides – two tribes or two people – the women from both sides would take the initiative to calm the fight and intervene for peace.

Indeed, a woman who did not take on this role was seen as lacking. And if the protagonists did not respond to their call, then the women peace ambassadors would take the scarves from their heads and wave them into the middle of the fight.

I should mention that the women of Mesopotamia were wrapping their heads before the invasion of Islam, and their head coverings are very different from those of the Islamic tradition, serving not just as coverings but more as ornament.

The actions taken by women in the name of peace were a more binding demand than any written law. Those who refused to obey would lose the respect of their community.

Historically, Kurdish women took off their scarves for peace, but in Kobane the opposite happened.

This time it was not for peace, but for the war for freedom. In a challenge to the dark mentality that ordered them to be covered, the women took off their colourful scarves.

Waving them with a cry of “Jin Jiyan Azadi” – Women Life Freedom – they fought street by street, house to house, position to position. Now these were no longer scarves, but symbols of freedom – a women’s flag. In Kobane, we witnessed how the peace scarf became the scarf of war.

I first heard of the “Sarpika Ser” – the scarf of war – from Viyan Peyman. While she prepared for conflict, which intensified with the darkness of evening, Viyan tied her scarf in her distinctive style; and saying “Sarpika Ser is complete”, she moved into position.

This scarf of war and of freedom became the holiest possession of every warrior. It was used as a belt for their gun, and as a bandage for the wounds of the friends shot next to them.

An anonymous friend who had been shot and breathed their last would be covered with a colourful scarf from an anonymous warrior. Blood stains added new patterns to the design.

As the women challenged the mentality that wanted to enslave them, the war scarf began to be worn by male friends and the adoption of the women’s scarf by male warriors was as significant as the Kobane victory.

This action, symbolising woman and freedom, penetrated the enemy mind more effectively than any bullet. The YPJ scarf that appeared, danced, and fought in those days in Kobane, was soon waving with the cry of victory in Raqqa, former capital of darkness.

The war scarf has become the most beautiful and potent women’s flag, proudly worn by women throughout the world. Today, once again, it shows an epic resistance, soaked in dust, blood and sweat, and fluttering with all its strength so as not to fall to the ground. The women of Rojava, with their colourful scarves of freedom, are resisting for the future of all women.

Roni Riha is a Kurdish journalist based in Switzerland who fought with the YPG for the liberation of Kobane. November 1st is celebrated as Kobane day in memory of the breaking of the siege and turning of the tide against ISIS five years ago.