Learn Kurmanji
This Kurmanji study guide will prepare you to read news sites from the region.
News Sites
Kurdish Question
Multi-platform site for in-depth articles and research on Rojava, Iran, and Turkey.
Rojava Report
A new website with lots of breaking news from Rojava
ANF
Covers Rojava in a variety of languages.
Gazete Şûjin
Focusing on women’s issues and feminism in Rojava and the region.
Diha News Agency
This news outlet out of Southern Turkey has been around since 2002.
Further Information
Cooperative Economy
This website is dedicated to the theory and practice of “cooperative economics” in Rojava as well as Bakur in Turkey.
Documentaries
Her War: Women VS. ISIS
RT correspondents received exclusive access to a training camp of the YPJ, spending three weeks with the female division of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units fighting ISIS. At the time of filming, the town of Serekaniye in Syria was the last strategic town along the frontline with ISIS. The mainly-Kurdish local population was determined to fight their murderous enemy and to prevent them from entering their town. Among the fighters are young women who made the choice to defend themselves and their families from the belligerent invaders. (54 min)
Rojava: A Democratic System in Progress
This video is an introduction to Rojava that answers the question “what is Democratic Confederalism?” in simple language. David Graeber and Kurdish Question contributor Memed Aksoi are among those interviewed. (17 min)
Rojava: Stateless Democracy
This BBC production was one of the first long pieces on the revolution in Rojava, covering developments there more broadly than the battle of Kobane. (12 min)
Rojava: Syria’s Secret Revolution
This BBC production was one of the first long pieces on the revolution in Rojava, covering developments there more broadly than the battle of Kobane. (23 min)
Rojava: Syria’s Unknown War
This is one of several VICE News documentaries which have covered Rojava and the parallel struggle in Bakur (Southern Turkey). (37 min)
Guerrilla Fighters of Kurdistan
Joey L., a photographer from Brooklyn, shot a personal and beautiful “behind the scenes” documentary of his trip to Rojava to photograph the fighters. (32 min)
Kurdistan: Women At War
Directed by Mylene Sauloy, this documentary looks at the military and ideological struggle waged by Kurdish women in Rojava, Shengal and Qandil as well as the history of the women’s movement. (53 min)