Woman, Life, Freedom

Woman, Life, Freedom (Kurdish: Jin, Jiyan, Azadî, ژن، ژیان، ئازادی; Persian: زن، زندگی، آزادی, romanized: Zan, Zendegi, Âzâdi) or Woman, Life, Liberty is a popular political Kurdish slogan used in both the Kurdish independence and democratic confederalist movements.^[1][2][3] The slogan became a rallying cry during the protests which occurred in Iran as a response to the death of Mahsa Amini.^[4]

A mural in Vienna shows a Kurdish woman and the slogan of "Woman, Life, Freedom" (in Kurdish)

A sign with the slogan written in Kurdish and English

Origin

The origin of the slogan can be traced to the Kurdish freedom movement of the late twentieth century. The first time that the slogan was used was by members of the Kurdish women's movement, part of the Kurdish freedom movement which was founded on grassroots activism in response to persecution from the governments of Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria.^[5] The slogan was popularized further by Kurdish figures such as Abdullah Öcalan, in his anti-capitalist and anti-patriarchal writings.^[6] Since its first use, the slogan has been used by members of Kurdish organisations and those outside of the Kurdish movement.^[7] This was the slogan of the Kurdish fighters in breaking the siege of Kobani by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Syria.^[8]

Use by democratic confederalists

The slogan is associated with Jineology, part of democratic confederalism, and is said to have been coined by Abdullah Öcalan, the leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).^[9] The slogan marked the political activities of Kurdish women in the 2000s and was considered attractive because of its spelling, rhythm and connotational significance.^[3] The slogan was also used among Kurds of the Women's Protection Units (YPJ) in the war against the Islamic State (ISIS).^[10]

Spread around the world

The slogan gained its height in international traction following the internationalization of the Mahsa Amini protests across European countries, United States and Australia. Prior to that, the slogan was used by also Women's rights movements in a number of international gatherings.^[11] For example, on 25 November 2015 it was used in gatherings held to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in several European countries.^[12]

Afghanistan

 

Artwork of the "Woman, Life, Freedom" slogan in Persian

On 20 September 2022, the slogan was chanted by Afghan women in a protest in support of Women protesting in Iran.^[13]

France

In 2018, during Cannes Film Festival, the cast of Girls of the Sun chanted "jin jiyan azadî".^[14] The slogan was later printed in Persian on the first page of the French newspaper Libération in September 2022 following protests against the death of Mahsa Amini.^[15]

Iran

Main article: Mahsa Amini protests

The use of the slogan "Woman, Life, Freedom" goes back to series of protests following the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022. The slogan was chanted at Amini's funeral in Saqqez and then was heard in initial protests in Sanandaj after the funeral.^[16][17][18] On 21 September, the slogan was chanted by students at University of Tehran,^[19] and by protesters around the country in the following days.^[20][21] On 28 September and the continuation of protests, students at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences used the slogan in their protests along with a new, similar slogan: "Woman, Life, Freedom; Man, Homeland, Prosperity".^[22]

Following the expansion of Iranian protests to other cities of the world, rallies were held in different cities with protesters using the slogan "Women, Life, Freedom" along with other slogans.^[23][24] Due to its expansion to cities around the world, and extensive coverage on foreign media, the French newspaper Libération used an image of Iranian protests with the slogan in Persian accompanied by its French translation.^[25][26] It was also used at the closing section of the lyrics for the song "Baraye" by Shervin Hajipour, who was detained by police after he received worldwide acclaim for the song. His song "Baraye" was later sung in global protests for Iran on 1 October 2022 in approximately 150 cities around the world.^[27][28]

In February 2023 twenty independent Iranian trade unions, feminist groups and student organizations issued a 12-point manifesto.^[29] It articulated and elaborated on the meaning of the slogan "woman, life, freedom", seeking an end to oppression, discrimination, tyranny, and dictatorship.^[30]

Turkey

 

A sign with "Woman, Life, Freedom" ("Jin, Jiyan, Azadî") on it, written in Central Kurdish and English, carried in a protest in Toronto

This slogan has been repeatedly used in Turkey by Saturday Mothers.^[14] The slogan was also chanted by Turkish protesters in Turkey, when they gathered to protest in front of the embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran on 21 September 2022.^[31]

Reception

• Iranian sociologist Taghi Azadarmaki, stated that the slogan is "one of the most rooted desires of the middle class".^[32][33]
• Iranian sociologist Farhad Khosrokhavar considers the slogan as "a new shot in the sequence of Iranian civil protests".^[34]
• Sociologist Mehrdad Darvishpour believes that the slogan is "Challenging the violent patriarchal, deadly and authoritarian ruling ideology".^[35]
• Iranian-American political analyst Karim Sadjadpour sees the slogan "Woman, Life, Freedom" as a counterpoint to the government.^[36]
• Mohammad Fazeli, Iranian sociologist and professor of sociology believes that in this slogan, woman has a symbolic face and demonstrates the hatred of violence.^[37]

Response

• German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock protested for Women's Rights with Banners of "Jin, Jiyan, Azadî" at the Party Committee.^[38]
• A Swedish member of the European Parliament, Abir Al-Sahlani, cut her hair in the European Parliament during a speech in solidarity with Kurdish women in Iran and taking a pair of scissors, she said "Jin, Jiyan, Azadî".^[39]
• Finnish-US Kurdish singer Helly Luv released a song about Jin, Jiyan, Azadî.^[40]
• Iranian-Dutch singer Sevdaliza released a song named "Woman Life Freedom زن زندگی آزادی".^[41]
• In 2023 Members of the European Parliament awarded the Sakharov Prize to Mahsa Amini and the movement.^[42]

See also

•  Feminism portal
•  Islam portal

• UN Commission for the Status of Women
• For Freedoms
• Hendiatris
• Islamic Penal Code
• Vital Voices
• Women in Iran
• Woman, Life, Freedom movement

References

1. Dirik, Dilar (2022). The Kurdish Women's Movement: History, Theory, and Practice. Pluto Press.
2. Bocheńska, Joanna (2018). Rediscovering Kurdistan's Cultures and Identities: The Call of the Cricket. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 47.
3. Çağlayan, Handan (2019). Women in the Kurdish Movement: Mothers, Comrades, Goddesses. Springer Nature. p. 197.
4. "Jina Mahsa Amini: The face of Iran's protests – DW – 12/06/2022". dw.com. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
5. Chotiner, Isaac (2 October 2022). "How Iran's Hijab Protest Movement Became So Powerful". The New Yorker. from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
6. Neven, Brecht; Schäfers, Marlene (25 November 2017). "Jineology: from women's struggles to social liberation". ROAR Magazine. from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
7. "'The fire of Newroz was lit with the slogan 'freedom'". Welat. 11 March 2022. from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
8. "'Woman, Life, Freedom' from Rojava to Rojhelat: Connections and Solidarities". Kurdish Peace Institute. 5 December 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
9. Neven, Brecht; Schäfers, Marlene (25 November 2017). "Jineology: from women's struggles to social liberation". ROAR Magazine. from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
10. Hamad, Words by Sarah Lazarus Photographs by Sonja (28 January 2019). "Women. Life. Freedom. Female fighters of Kurdistan". CNN. from the original on 28 January 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
11. "کام ژن؟ کام ژیان؟ کام ئازادی؟" [Which woman? which life? which freedom?]. Iran's Kurdistan Human Rights Watch (in Persian). 5 December 2020. from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
12. ""زن, زندگی, آزادی" شعار زنان جهان شد" ["Woman, Life, Freedom" became the slogan of the women of the world]. ANF News (in Persian). from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
13. "همصدایی زنان افغانستان با زنان ایران درپی قتل مهسا امینی: ما هم‌سرنوشتیم" [Afghan women's solidarity with Iranian women after the murder of Mahsa Amini: We share the same fate]. ار.اف.ای – RFI (in Persian). 20 September 2022. from the original on 27 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
14. "شعار "زن، زندگی، آزادی" از کجا آمد؟". آسو (in Persian). from the original on 1 December 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
15. "Libération". journal.liberation.fr (in French). from the original on 29 September 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
16. "مهسا امینی با شرکت گسترده مردم به خاک سپرده شد" [Mehsa Amini was buried with the large participation of people]. dw.com (in Persian). 17 September 2022. from the original on 1 December 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
17. فردا, رادیو (21 September 2022). "خشم عمومی از جان‌باختن مهسا امینی؛ معترضان شعار "زن، زندگی، آزادی" سر دادند" [Public anger over Mehsa Amini's death; Protesters chanted "Woman, Life, Freedom".]. Radio Farda (in Persian). from the original on 18 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
18. "مردم کردستان بار دیگر به خیابان‌ها آمدند؛ شلیک نیروهای امنیتی به معترضان" [The people of Kurdistan once again came to the streets; Security forces shot at protesters]. Iran International (in Persian). 21 September 2022. from the original on 5 October 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
19. "تجمع دانشجویان دانشگاه تهران در اعتراض به قتل مهسا امینی با شعار "زن، زندگی آزادی"" [Tehran University students gathered to protest against murder of Mehsa Amini with the slogan "Woman, Life ,Freedom"]. Iran International (in Persian). 21 September 2022. from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
20. تصاویر دریافتی از اعتراض مردم مریوان؛ دوشنبه ۲۸ شهریور شعار مردم: زن، زندگی، آزادی [Images received from the protest of the peopke of Marivan; Monday, 28 September, people's slogan: women, life, freedom] (in Persian), VOA Persian, 20 September 2022, from the original on 29 September 2022, retrieved 28 September 2022
21. "از کردستان تا تهران اعتراض به مرگ فجیع مهسا و در دفاع از زن، زندگی و آزادی" [From Kurdistan to Tehran, protest against the horrible death of Mahsa and in defense of women, life and freedom]. RFI (in Persian). 19 September 2022. from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
22. تجمع دانشگاه پزشکی شیراز؛ "زن، زندگی، آزادی؛ مرد، میهن، آبادی" [Gathering at Shiraz Medical University; "Woman, life, freedom; Man, homeland, settlement"] (in Persian), VOA Persian, 28 September 2022, from the original on 6 December 2022, retrieved 28 September 2022
23. "انعکاس اعتراض‌های سراسری در مطبوعات جهان؛ لوموند: صدای زنان ایرانی همه‌جا شنیده می‌شود" [Reflecting nationwide protests in the world press; Le Monde: Iranian women's voices are heard everywhere]. Voice of America (in Persian). 26 September 2022. from the original on 9 December 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
24. "اعتراضات گسترده در حوالی سفارت جمهوری اسلامی در پاریس و لندن" [Massive protests around the embassy of the Islamic Republic in Paris and London]. Radio Zamaneh (in Persian). 27 September 2022. from the original on 1 December 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
25. "اعتراض‌های گسترده و سرکوب شدید در ایران؛ شورای هماهنگی تشکل‌های صنفی فرهنگیان دعوت به اعتصاب کرد" [Widespread protests and severe repression in Iran; The Coordinating Council of Educators' Union Organizations called for a strike]. euronews (in Persian). 25 September 2022. from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
26. "خیزش مردم ایران؛ تیتر اول رسانه‌های جهان" [The uprising of the Iranian people; The first headline of the world's media]. Independent Persian (in Persian). 26 September 2022. from the original on 29 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
27. "Worldwide Rallies Show Unprecedented Support For Iran Protests". Iran International. from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
28. Baraye, from the original on 31 January 2023, retrieved 20 October 2022
29. "Trade Unions Issue Charter Of Minimum Demands". Iranwire. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
30. Dagres, Holly (23 February 2023). "Iran's 'women, life, freedom' revolution has a manifesto. Here are the next steps". Atlantic Council. from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
31. "شهروندان ترکیه در اعتراض به مرگ مهسا امینی و در همبستگی با زنان ایران تظاهرات کردند" [Turkish citizens protested the death of Mehsa Amini and demonstrated in solidarity with Iranian women]. RFI (in Persian). 21 September 2022. from the original on 27 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
32. "شعار "زن، زندگی و آزادی " یکی از ریشه‌دارترین خواسته‌های طبقه متوسط است" [The slogan "woman, life and freedom" is one of the most rooted desires of the middle class]. Islahat News (in Persian). 21 September 2022. from the original on 21 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
33. "آزاد ارمکی: شعار "زن، زندگی و آزادی" یکی از ریشه‌دارترین خواسته‌های طبقه متوسط است" [Azadarmaki: The slogan "woman, life and freedom" is one of the most rooted desires of the middle class]. Asr-e Iran (in Persian). 21 September 2022. from the original on 21 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
34. ضرغامی, محمد (22 September 2022). "جمهوری اسلامی قادر به مدیریت جامعه برای طولانی‌مدت نیست" [The Islamic Republic is not able to manage the society for a long time]. رادیو فردا (in Persian). from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
35. "جرقه انفجار "ابر جنبش" و "انقلاب زنانه" درایران؟" [The spark of the explosion of "super movement" and "women's revolution" in Iran?]. BBC Persian (in Persian). 22 September 2022. from the original on 23 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
36. Alonso, Pierre (25 September 2022). "Iran: "femme, vie, liberté", ces trois mots que le régime honnit" [Iran: "Woman, Life, Freedom", three words that the regime hates]. Libération (in French). from the original on 6 March 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
37. "موانع اعتماد عمومي در ايران" [Obstacles of public trust in Iran]. Etemad Newspaper. 27 September 2022. from the original on 1 October 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
38. "German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock official Facebook posts pictures of Party Committee with Banners of "Jin, Jiyan, Azadî"". Facebook. 28 October 2022. from the original on 1 December 2022. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
39. "A Swedish member of the European Parliament Abir Al-Sahlani cuts hair during speech in solidarity with Kurdish women and taking a pair of scissors, she said "Jin, Jiyan, Azadi"". Euronews. 6 October 2022. from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
40. "Helly Luv released new song of Woman, Life, Freedom". YouTube. 13 October 2022. from the original on 1 December 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
41. "SEVDALIZA – WOMAN LIFE FREEDOM زن زندگی آزادی". YouTube. 26 November 2022. from the original on 26 November 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
42. "Jina Mahsa Amini and Iranian women protest movement win the 2023 Sakharov Prize | News | European Parliament". www.europarl.europa.eu. 19 October 2023.

External links

• "Zan. Zendegi. Azadi. Woman, Life, Freedom. Global action in solidarity with Iranian women & girls who are courageously demonstrating peacefully for their fundamental human rights". www.womanlifefreedom.today. Retrieved 9 November 2022.