Woman, Life, Freedom

Woman, Life, Freedom or Woman, Life, Liberty is a popular political Kurdish slogan used in both the Kurdish independence and democratic confederalist movements. The slogan became a rallying cry during the protests which occurred in Iran as a response to the death of Mahsa Amini.
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. It was popularized further by Kurdish figures such as Abdullah Öcalan, in his anti-capitalist and anti-patriarchal writings. Since its first use, the slogan has been used by members of Kurdish organisations and those outside of the Kurdish movement. 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.
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). The slogan marked the political activities of Kurdish women in the 2000s and was considered attractive because of its spelling, rhythm and connotational significance. The slogan was also used among Kurds of the Women's Protection Units (YPJ) in the war against the Islamic State (ISIS).
Spread around the world
The slogan was first coined by Kurdish women fighters and then became popular in other protests around the globe. 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.
Afghanistan
On 20 September 2022, the slogan was chanted by Afghan women in a protest in support of Women protesting in Iran.
France
In 2018, during Cannes Film Festival, the cast of Girls of the Sun chanted "jin jiyan azadî". 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.
Iran
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. On 21 September, the slogan was chanted by students at University of Tehran, and by protesters around the country in the following days. 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".
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. 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. 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.
In February 2023 twenty independent Iranian trade unions, feminist groups and student organizations issued a 12-point manifesto. It articulated and elaborated on the meaning of the slogan "woman, life, freedom", seeking an end to oppression, discrimination, tyranny, and dictatorship.
Turkey
This slogan has been repeatedly used in Turkey by Saturday Mothers. 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.
Reception
Iranian sociologist Taghi Azadarmaki, stated that the slogan is "one of the most rooted desires of the middle class".
Iranian sociologist Farhad Khosrokhavar considers the slogan as "a new shot in the sequence of Iranian civil protests".
Sociologist Mehrdad Darvishpour believes that the slogan is "Challenging the violent patriarchal, deadly and authoritarian ruling ideology".
Iranian-American political analyst Karim Sadjadpour sees the slogan "Woman, Life, Freedom" as a counterpoint to the government.
Mohammad Fazeli, Iranian sociologist and professor of sociology believes that in this slogan, woman has a symbolic face and demonstrates the hatred of violence.
Response
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock protested for Women's Rights with Banners of "Jin, Jiyan, Azadî" at the Party Committee.
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".
Finnish-US Kurdish singer Helly Luv released a song about Jin, Jiyan, Azadî.
Iranian-Dutch singer Sevdaliza released a song named "Woman Life Freedom زن زندگی آزادی".
In 2023 Members of the European Parliament awarded the Sakharov Prize to Mahsa Amini and the movement.
See also
UN Commission for the Status of Women
For Freedoms
Hendiatris
Islamic Penal Code
Vital Voices
Women in Iran
References
External links
Egalitarianism
Political campaigns
Democratic confederalism
Social justice
Political catchphrases
Mottos
Mahsa Amini protests
Kurdish words and phrases
Women in Afghanistan
Women in Iran
Women in Turkey
Women in Syria