Indigenous women challenge Islamist oppression, call for cross-community solidarity
Beyond their shared experiences of oppression and Islamist colonial occupation, the speakers also expressed concern about what they saw as a growing trend of Western women supporting regimes.
Six women from various Indigenous communities came together to confront the oppression they face at the hands of radical Islamist forces, during the "Asia & the Middle East: Conversations Across Communities" panel hosted by Indigenous Bridges. The panelists - Hindu activist Kavya K, Israeli Druze activist Rania Dean, Kurdish speaker Schilan Kurdpoor, Iranian human rights activist Honey Montzemi, and Native American and Jewish Indigenous rights activist Lani Anpo - shared their experiences of gender-based violence, genocide, forced assimilation, silencing, and intimidation under Islamist rule.
Despite their diverse backgrounds, the women all reported feeling targeted by Islamist forces, with attacks on women posing a threat to entire communities and cultural traditions.
The panelists highlighted the need for solidarity among Indigenous communities to effectively combat the oppressive forces of political Islam. Kurdish activist Kurdpoor explained how ISIS fighters believed that being killed by a female combatant would prevent them from entering paradise, leading Kurdish fighters in Rojava to create the Women's Protection Units (YPJ) in northern Syria to deter such attacks.
Kurdish activist Kurdpoor also discussed the importance of preserving indigenous languages as a means of safeguarding cultural heritage, while Druze activist Dean emphasized the historical struggles of the Druze community in Syria to maintain their identity amid assimilation efforts. Montzemi pointed out that secular leftists had previously supported Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, only to face persecution afterwards, and expressed concern over Western women supporting oppressive regimes by marrying Islamic State members.
The panelists emphasized the importance of understanding the appeal of extremist groups for women and the need to recognize the shared challenges Indigenous communities face across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Panel moderator Ateret Shmuel hoped the panel would help the global community better understand the struggles of these marginalized communities and acknowledge their ongoing fight for safety and sovereignty.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
