Woman, Life, Freedom (, (), ) is a popular political

Kurdish Kurdish may refer to: *Kurds or Kurdish people *Kurdish language ** Northern Kurdish (Kurmanji) **Central Kurdish (Sorani) **Southern Kurdish ** Laki Kurdish *Kurdish alphabets *Kurdistan, the land of the Kurdish people which includes: **Southern ...

slogan A slogan is a memorable motto or phrase used in a clan or a political, commercial, religious, or other context as a repetitive expression of an idea or purpose, with the goal of persuading members of the public or a more defined target group ...

used in both the

Kurdish independence Kurdish nationalism () is a nationalist political movement which asserts that Kurds are a nation and espouses the creation of an independent Kurdistan from Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. Early Kurdish nationalism had its roots in the Ottoman ...

and democratic confederalist movements. The slogan became a rallying cry during the

protests A protest (also called a demonstration, remonstration, or remonstrance) is a public act of objection, disapproval or dissent against political advantage. Protests can be thought of as acts of cooperation in which numerous people cooperate ...

which occurred in Iran as a response to the

death of Mahsa Amini On 16 September 2022, 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman Mahsa Amini, also known as Jina Amini, died in a hospital in Tehran, Iran, under suspicious circumstances. The Guidance Patrol, the Islamic religious police, religious morality police of ...

. The phrase rapidly became a universal rallying cry, symbolizing resistance against oppression and the fight for

women's rights Women's rights are the rights and Entitlement (fair division), entitlements claimed for women and girls worldwide. They formed the basis for the women's rights movement in the 19th century and the feminist movements during the 20th and 21st c ...

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. The slogan was popularized further by Kurdish figures such as

Abdullah Öcalan Abdullah Öcalan ( ; ; born 4 April 1948 or 1949), also known as Apo (short for Abdullah in Turkish; Kurdish for "uncle"), is a founding member of the militant Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Öcalan was based in Syria from 1979 to 1998. He ...

, 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 The Islamic State (IS), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Daesh, is a transnational Salafi jihadist organization and unrecognized quasi-state. IS occupied signi ...

in Syria.

Spread around the world

The slogan gained its height in international traction following the internationalization of the Mahsa Jina Amini protests across European countries, the United States, and Australia. Prior to that, the slogan was also used by women's rights movements in a number of international gatherings. For example, on 25 November 2015 it was used in gatherings held to mark

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women The United Nations General Assembly has designated November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women ( Resolution 54/134). The premise of the day is to raise awareness around the world that women are subjected t ...

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.

Canada

Several hundred members of the

University of Toronto The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public university, public research university whose main campus is located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park (Toronto), Queen's Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded by ...

community held a

vigil A vigil, from the Latin meaning 'wakefulness' ( Greek: , or ), is a period of purposeful sleeplessness, an occasion for devotional watching, or an observance. The Italian word has become generalized in this sense and means 'eve' (as in "on t ...

at Convocation Hall in September 2022 to mourn

Mahsa Amini On 16 September 2022, 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman Mahsa Amini, also known as Jina Amini, died in a hospital in Tehran, Iran, under suspicious circumstances. The Guidance Patrol, the religious morality police of Iran's government, had a ...

. The vigil was especially poignant for the University of Toronto community, remembering the loss of several members in Flight 752, shot down by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (

IRGC The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), also known as the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, is a multi-service primary branch of the Iranian Armed Forces. It was officially established by Ruhollah Khomeini as a military branch in May 1979 i ...

) in January 2020. Speakers at the vigil, including Iranian women's rights activist

Azam Jangravi Azam Jangravi, (Persian language, Persian: اعظم جنگروی; born June 9, 1983, in Tehran) is an Iranian Information Security Analyst and human rights advocate who lives in Toronto, Canada. She is primarily famous for being one of The Girl ...

and others connected to Flight 752 victims, condemned the violent regime and called for an end to gender-based harassment and violence, including against

LGBTQ+ LGBTQ people are individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning. Many variants of the initialism are used; LGBTQIA+ people incorporates intersex, asexual, aromantic, agender, and other individuals. The group i ...

people. The vigil also highlighted the fears of those in the Iranian diaspora about returning to Iran and underscored the broader movement against the regime's oppression, emphasizing the involvement of

queer ''Queer'' is an umbrella term for people who are non-heterosexual or non- cisgender. Originally meaning or , ''queer'' came to be used pejoratively against LGBTQ people in the late 19th century. From the late 1980s, queer activists began to ...

individuals in the struggle for freedom and rights.

France

In 2018, during

Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Film Festival (; ), until 2003 called the International Film Festival ('), is the most prestigious film festival in the world. Held in Cannes, France, it previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around ...

, the cast of ''

Girls of the Sun ''Girls of the Sun'' () is a 2018 French war drama film directed by Eva Husson. It was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. Cast * Golshifteh Farahani as Bahar * Emmanuelle Bercot as Mathilde, inspired by Mari ...

'' chanted "jin jiyan azadî". The slogan was later printed in

Persian Persian may refer to: * People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language ** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples ** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...

on the first page of the French newspaper

Libération (), popularly known as ''Libé'' (), is a daily newspaper in France, founded in Paris by Jean-Paul Sartre and Serge July in 1973 in the wake of the protest movements of May 1968 in France, May 1968. Initially positioned on the far left of Fr ...

in September 2022 following protests against the

Germany

On Saturday 22 October 2022, tens of thousands of people converged in

Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...

to express solidarity with Iranian protesters, motivated by the

. Organized by the Woman-Life-Freedom collective, the demonstration started at the

Victory Column A victory column, or monumental column or triumphal column, is a monument in the form of a column, erected in memory of a heroic commemoration, including victorious battle, war, or revolution. The column typically stands on a base and is crowned ...

in Berlin's Tiergarten park and moved through central Berlin, with Berlin police estimating the participation at around 80,000. Protesters displayed the Iranian Lion and Sun flags and placards condemning Iran's regime, echoing the slogan "Women, Life, Freedom" in English and German. A highlight was a speaker urging the international community to expel Iranian ambassadors and avoid negotiations with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, criticizing the rapid and harsh treatment of dissidents in Iran. Additionally, the protest saw participants from various parts of Germany and Europe, indicating a widespread support network. Amidst calls for social solidarity and other causes, the Berlin protest underscored the global resonance of Iran's ongoing struggle for freedom and rights.

India

The slogan was spotted drawn on the road during the 2024 Meyeder Raat Dokhol Movement in

Kolkata Kolkata, also known as Calcutta ( its official name until 2001), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of West Bengal. It lies on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary ...

, as citizens demanded greater safety for women the society, particularly at night time.

Iran

The use of the slogan "Woman, Life, Freedom" goes back to series of protests following the

in September 2022, who was arrested and detained by Iran's ” morality police” for failing to properly cover her hair and later died in police custody. In the protests following Mahsa Amini's demise while under the custody of Iranian authorities, a wave of swift public protests spread. These protests consisted of women defiantly removing and burning their headscarves, cutting their hair, and boldly confronting and fighting against the forces of the authorities. Riots began to form as local leading groups such as "the Covenant" and " Neighbourhood Youth Alliance" began to spread the news online and called for protests. the government, in response, resorted to internet restrictions and shutdowns to stifle the organization of further protests and stop the local leaders. The protestors instead resorted to TV, where the foreign oppositions later spread the rallying cry: "Women, life, freedom," symbolizing the essence of this rapid and transformative movement. Since the Islamic revolution of 1979, these protests presented the most immediate challenge to Iran's regime. The response from the police to the protests resulted in the death of more than 500 civilians and the imprisonment of over 1000. The slogan was chanted at Amini's funeral in

Saqqez Saqqez (; ; ) is a city in the Central District (Saqqez County), Central District of Saqqez County, Kurdistan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district. Etymology The name Saqqez derives from the Scythian la ...

and then was spread online by an organization and it became a trending hashtag. Later it was heard in initial protests in

Sanandaj Sanandaj (; ) is a city in the Central District of Sanandaj County, in the Kurdistan province of Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district. With a population of 414,069, it is the second largest Kurdish city a ...

after the funeral. On 21 September, the slogan was chanted by students at

University of Tehran The University of Tehran (UT) or Tehran University (, ) is a public collegiate university in Iran, and the oldest and most prominent Iranian university located in Tehran. Based on its historical, socio-cultural, and political pedigree, as well as ...

, 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 Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS) () is a public medical school located in Shiraz, Iran. Since its inauguration in 1946, SUMS has always been ranked among top medical schools in Iran. Currently, more than 10,000 students are studying ...

used the slogan in their protests along with a new, similar slogan: "Woman, Life, Freedom; Man, Homeland, Prosperity". Overnight, the protests spread across 15 cities in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini. Police continued to arrest more people and deployed tear gas to scatter the crowds. 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

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 "Baraye" (, lit. "For..." or "Because of...") is a 2022 power ballad by Iranian singer-songwriter Shervin Hajipour, inspired by the death of Mahsa Amini and its aftermath. Widely called the anthem of the protests, "Baraye" received critical acc ...

" by

Shervin Hajipour Shervin Haji Aghapour (; born 30 March 1997) is an Iranian singer-songwriter. Born in Babolsar, he began posting covers to his social media in late 2018. After auditioning in '' New Era'' television show on 22 March 2019 with " Maybe Paradise", h ...

, 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.

Culture and Art

The slogan "Woman, Life, Freedom" has resonated deeply within the cultural and artistic communities, inspiring various forms of expression that underscore its significance and impact. In a scene from the film "

" starring

Golshifteh Farahani Rahavard Farahani (; born 10 July 1983), known professionally as Golshifteh Farahani (), is an Iranian and French actress. She is known for her performances in '' M for Mother'' (2006), '' Body of Lies'' (2008), ''About Elly'' (2009), ''The Pat ...

, Bahar, the

Yazidi Yazidis, also spelled Yezidis (; ), are a Kurdish-speaking endogamous religious group indigenous to Kurdistan, a geographical region in Western Asia that includes parts of Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and Iran. The majority of Yazidis remaining in ...

commander of the women's unit, shouts for women, for life, and for freedom before starting an operation against

ISIS Isis was a major goddess in ancient Egyptian religion whose worship spread throughout the Greco-Roman world. Isis was first mentioned in the Old Kingdom () as one of the main characters of the Osiris myth, in which she resurrects her sla ...

. In the midst of the 2022 uprising in Iran, specifically in early November, music students at the

's School of Arts reinterpreted the revolutionary anthem "Rise up, remove, the foundation of the enemy's palace," linking it back to the

1979 revolution The Iranian Revolution (, ), also known as the 1979 Revolution, or the Islamic Revolution of 1979 (, ) was a series of events that culminated in the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty in 1979. The revolution led to the replacement of the Impe ...

and the Confederation of Iranian Students. The new rendition began with the lines "Rise up for women, life, freedom." Similarly, on 17 November, students at

Sharif University of Technology Sharif University of Technology (SUT); (, romanized : Dāneshgāh-e sana'ti-e sharif) is a public research university in Tehran, Iran. It is widely considered to be the nation's most prestigious and leading institution for science, technology ...

performed this anthem, demonstrating its enduring appeal and relevance. "

," a powerful

ballad A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and song of Great Britain and Ireland from the Late Middle Ages until the 19th century. They were widely used across Eur ...

by Iranian musician

, has resonated deeply as an anthem of protest, capturing the collective aspirations of Iranians globally after the

in September 2022. Drawing inspiration from social media posts of Iranians longing for freedom and change, the song encapsulates a broad spectrum of grievances, from societal restrictions to

environmental issues Environmental issues are disruptions in the usual function of ecosystems. Further, these issues can be caused by humans (human impact on the environment) or they can be natural. These issues are considered serious when the ecosystem cannot recov ...

. Released on Hajipour's Instagram, "Baraye" quickly went viral but resulted in the artist's arrest and subsequent release on bail. Despite these challenges, the song's influence continued to grow, culminating in a significant accolade. Shervin Hajipour received the Best Song for Social Change Award at the 2023 Grammys, marking a historic recognition of the song's profound impact on

social activism Activism consists of efforts to promote, impede, direct or intervene in social, political, economic or environmental reform with the desire to make changes in society toward a perceived common good. Forms of activism range from mandate build ...

. "Baraye" has not only underscored the ongoing struggle for freedom and rights in Iran but has also inspired various forms of solidarity and expression worldwide, from university events to political activism. In October 2022,

Coldplay Coldplay are a British Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1997. They consist of vocalist and pianist Chris Martin, guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman, drummer and percussionist Will Champion, and manager Phil Harvey (band m ...

brought the Iranian protest anthem "

" into the global spotlight by performing it at their Buenos Aires concert, with the performance broadcast to 81 countries but notably not

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

, where the song could lead to arrest. A notable instance of international artistic solidarity occurred on Wednesday, 16 November 2022, at the

Royal Festival Hall The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,700-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London, England. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge, in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is a G ...

, Southbank Centre,

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

, during the "Woman, Life, Freedom" concert. This event featured a collaborative performance by Iranian and international artists, including

Faramarz Aslani Faramarz Aslani (; July 13, 1945 – March 20, 2024) was an Iranian singer, guitarist, composer, songwriter, and music producer. He was well known for his golden hits, such as 'Age Ye Rooz', which resonated across different generations. Biograp ...

, Golnar Shahyar,

Lianne La Havas Lianne Charlotte Vlahavas (born 23 August 1989), known professionally as Lianne La Havas ( ), is a British singer-songwriter. Her career began after being introduced to various musicians, including singer Paloma Faith, for whom she sang backing ...

, Sakina Teyna, Kelsey Lu, Diaspora, and

Lafawndah Yasmine Dubois, known professionally as Lafawndah (also known as KUKII) is a singer, songwriter, producer and director. Early life Lafawndah was raised in Paris, France, and is of Egyptian, Iranian, and English descent. She has lived across t ...

, who expressed their support for the women of Iran. In November 2023, an image of

Jodie Foster Alicia Christian "Jodie" Foster (born November 19, 1962) is an American actress and filmmaker. Foster started her career as a child actor before establishing herself as leading actress in film. She has received List of awards and nominations re ...

wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the "Woman, Life, Freedom" slogan gained attention, highlighting the slogan's widespread recognition and endorsement beyond activist circles and into mainstream culture.

Reception

* Among the notable individuals who signed in solidarity with the movement are: **

Nazanin Afshin-Jam Nazanin Afshin-Jam (, ''Nāzanin Afŝin Jam'', born April 11, 1979) is an Iranian-Canadian human rights activist, author, public speaker and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss World Canada 2003. She is also president and co-founder ...

- Human rights activist and author. **

Jacinda Ardern Dame Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern ( ; born 26 July 1980) is a New Zealand politician and activist who was the 40th prime minister of New Zealand and Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party, leader of the Labour Party from 2017 to 2023. She was ...

- Former Prime Minister, New Zealand. **

Laura Bush Laura Lane Welch Bush (née Welch; born November 4, 1946) is an American educator who was the first lady of the United States from 2001 to 2009 as the wife of George W. Bush, the 43rd president of the United States. Bush was previously the fir ...

- Former First Lady, U.S. **

Kim Campbell Avril Phaedra Douglas "Kim" Campbell (born March 10, 1947) is a Canadian politician who was the 19th prime minister of Canada from June to November 1993. Campbell is the first and only female prime minister of Canada. Prior to becoming the f ...

- 19th Prime Minister, Canada. **

Hillary Rodham Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton ( Rodham; born October 26, 1947) is an American politician, lawyer and diplomat. She was the 67th United States secretary of state in the administration of Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013, a U.S. senator represent ...

- Former Secretary of State, U.S. **

Shirin Ebadi Shirin Ebadi (; born 21 June 1947) is an Iranian Nobel laureate, lawyer, writer, teacher and a former judge and founder of the Defenders of Human Rights Center in Iran. In 2003, Ebadi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her pioneering effor ...

- Nobel Peace Prize laureate, U.S. **

Patricia Ellis Patricia Ellis (born Patricia Gene O'Brien; May 20, 1918 – March 26, 1970) was an American film actress from 1932 to 1939, who then had a brief singing career until 1941. Early years Born in Birmingham, Michigan, in 1918 (although she gave he ...

- President & Founder, Women's Foreign Policy Group. **

Christine Lagarde Christine Madeleine Odette Lagarde (; , ; born 1 January 1956) is a French politician and lawyer who has been the President of the European Central Bank since 2019. She previously served as the 11th Managing Director of the International Monetar ...

- Economic & Political Leader, France. **

Nadia Murad Nadia Murad Basee Taha (; ; born 10 March 1993) is an Iraqi-born Yazidi human rights activist based in Germany. In 2014, during the Yazidi genocide by the Islamic State, she was abducted from her hometown of Kocho in Iraq. Much of her communi ...

- Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Iraq. **

Michelle Obama Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama ( Robinson; born January 17, 1964) is an American attorney and author who served as the first lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017, being married to Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United Stat ...

- Former First Lady, U.S. **

Oprah Winfrey Oprah Gail Winfrey (; born Orpah Gail Winfrey; January 29, 1954) is an American television presenter, talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and media proprietor. She is best known for her talk show, ''The Oprah Winfrey Show' ...

- Media Personality and Philanthropist, U.S. **

Malala Yousafzai Malala Yousafzai (; , pronunciation: ; born 12 July 1997) is a Pakistani female education activist, film and television producer, and the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize laureate at the age of 17. She is the youngest Nobel Prize laureate in history, ...

- Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Pakistan. * Iranian sociologist Taghi Azadarmaki, stated that the slogan is "one of the most rooted desires of the middle class". * Iranian sociologist considers the slogan as "a new shot in the sequence of Iranian civil protests". * Sociologist 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 The federal minister for foreign affairs () is the head of the Federal Foreign Office and a member of the Cabinet of Germany. The current office holder is Johann Wadephul. Since 1966, the minister for foreign affairs has often also simultaneous ...

Annalena Baerbock Annalena Charlotte Alma Baerbock (; born 15 December 1980) is a German politician and diplomat of the Alliance 90/The Greens party. She served as Minister for Foreign Affairs (Germany), Germany's minister for foreign affairs from 2021 to 2025. I ...

protested for

Women's Rights Women's rights are the rights and Entitlement (fair division), entitlements claimed for women and girls worldwide. They formed the basis for the women's rights movement in the 19th century and the feminist movements during the 20th and 21st c ...

with Banners of "Jin, Jiyan, Azadî" at the Party Committee. * A Swedish member of the

European Parliament The European Parliament (EP) is one of the two legislative bodies of the European Union and one of its seven institutions. Together with the Council of the European Union (known as the Council and informally as the Council of Ministers), it ...

Abir Al-Sahlani Abir Al-Sahlani (born 18 May 1976) is an Iraqi-born Swedish Member of the European Parliament and since July 2019 a member of the European Parliament, representing the Centre Party. She lives in Hägersten, Stockholm. Biography Al Sahlani w ...

, cut her hair in the European Parliament during a speech in solidarity with

Kurdish women Kurdish women () traditionally had more rights than those living in other Islamic social and political systems, although traditional Kurdish culture, as most of traditional societies in the Middle East, is patriarchal, and in Kurdish families a ...

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 Sevda Alizadeh (; born 1 September 1987), known professionally as Sevdaliza, is an Iranian-Dutch singer, songwriter, record producer, visual artist, and director. In 2015, she released two EPs, ''The Suspended Kid'' and ''Children of Silk''. Whil ...

released a song named "Woman Life Freedom زن زندگی آزادی". * In 2023

Members of the European Parliament A member of the European Parliament (MEP) is a person who has been elected to serve as a popular representative in the European Parliament. When the European Parliament (then known as the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Comm ...

awarded the

Sakharov Prize The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, commonly known as the Sakharov Prize, is an honorary award for individuals or groups who have dedicated their lives to the defence of human rights and freedom of thought. Named after Russian scienti ...

and the movement.

References

External links

* {{Mahsa Amini protests Abdullah Öcalan 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 Kurdish slogans