Qamishli or Qamishlo (Arabic: القامشلي, Kurdish: Qamişlo, Syriac: ܒܝܬ ܙܠܝ̈ܢ) is the de-facto administrative capital of the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria. It is part of the Qamişlo Canton, which forms part of the Jazira Region.
This large and bustling city sits on Turkey’s border, making it vulnerable to attacks. Its sister city Nusaybin was divorced from it when the borders were drawn and now lies in Bashur [North Kurdistan / southeastern Turkey].
Qamishlo has an airport, with flights still going to and from Damascus. It also has a train station, but trains are currently not in operation.
According to the 2004 census, Qamishli had a population of 184,231.
The conference held in Qamishlo stands as a serious and organized response to a century of loneliness, denial, and fragmentation imposed on a people. The final document of the Kurdish Unity Conference in Rojava calls for the unification of Kurdish regions under a federal Syrian umbrella as an integrated political and administrative unit.
The 26th of April, was set as the official date for the convening of the “Kurdish National Conference” in North and East Syria. This comes after a postponement due to the current war situation in the region and disagreements among parties regarding the conference. The aim of the conference is to establish a unified political reference for the Kurds in Syria, contribute to a just solution for the Kurdish issue within the future of Syria, and guarantee the rights of the Kurdish people through a document agreed upon by the participants. This marks the first time that Syrian Kurdish parties will convene on a common position regarding the Kurdish issue in Syria in over a decade.
“With this conference, we are laying the foundation for a new history—the history of the unity of the Kurdish people, led by the vanguard of Kurdish women. Just as women in Rojava have been at the forefront in all fields, they are also leading the way in building a democratic Syria.” — Perwîn Yûsif (PYD)
The Sara Organization for the Fight Against Violence Against Women has reported 388 incidents of violence, human rights violations and crimes against women in the last 10 months in Northern and Eastern Syria.
Kurdish, Arab, Syriac, Assyrian, Armenian, and Turkmen women have achieved numerous legal, political, military, cultural, and social accomplishments in North and East Syria during the July 19 Revolution (Women's Revolution). Preparations are currently underway to draft a special social contract for women.
The Women’s Economy of the Kongra Star has opened a furniture store named "Star Furniture Store" in Dêrik to increase women’s participation in the labour force and achieve their economic independence.
The Women’s Office of Municipal Councils in the Cizîrê region has started the construction of buildings to provide safe space for women as part of its ‘Nûjiyan (English: New Life)’ project. “The door of Nûjiyan will be open to all women.”
New projects allow women to participate in life stronger in Qamishlo. Lilith café and restaurant is one of these projects. The café, run by women, was opened two months ago in the city.
Armanc Mohammed, head of the Women’s Economy of North and East Syria, evaluated their work during the past year and discussed the projects that had been implemented and the economic level that women had reached in North and East Syria. Armanc said that women had begun a revolution in the economic field and given color to the year 2020 with their efforts.
The women’s market in Rojava aims to develop women’s economic autonomy, enabling them to forge social ties and giving them confidence. This souk project is being set up by women in the heart of a region, Syrian Kurdistan in northeastern Syria, where unprecedented political experimentation has been taking place for ten years. Municipalism, or democratic confederalism,
The Women's Products Market opened by the Qamishlo Municipality is both a workplace and a space for women to socialize. Women working in the market read books written by female authors while drinking coffee or tea. Now, women have 14 stores in the market and they earn a living by selling their products.
Women in Rojava improve economy Pointing out that the women have improved the economy in Rojava, Armanc Mihemed, executive of the Economy Committee of Kongra Star, said that they have achieved significant successes by realizing many projects.
Despite the simple capabilities under the capitalist economy, and the constant attacks of the occupier on the regions of northeast and Syria, the economic toil of women has bore fruit to good results during 2020, as they played a leading role in easing the economic crisis that the region suffer from.
