A call to protect a feminist enclave in Syria needs your voice to defend democracy.

One overlooked narrative, even as American women have lost bodily autonomy in some states, is that Kurdish women in North and East Syria, also known as Rojava, became equal partners in shaping every aspect of life, political, economic and social. This unique model of gender equality, which also emphasizes ecological sustainability and grassroots democracy, is decades ahead of the region. Remarkably, it flourished even amid the devastation of Syria’s civil war.

International media lauded the all-female militia, the YPJ (Women’s Protection Unit), for their victories over ISIS extremists. The violent militants, who did not fear death or suicide, were reportedly terrified of being killed by a woman, a fate they believed would deny them access to the afterlife’s promised rewards. Kurdish women didn’t only resist one of the darkest forces of our time; they also transformed their own patriarchal culture. They have been living their slogan “Jin, Jyan, Azadi” (Woman, Life, Freedom), a call for justice for both people and the planet.

“In Rojava, the full exercise of women’s rights is not just an aspiration; it is a reality,” says author and journalist Debbie Bookchin, who has visited the area. “It means that the entire culture is transformed: the way people think about every aspect of life – from education to marriage, from medical care to child care – is informed by the unique perspective of women. Most importantly, it ensures that women alone make decisions about their bodies, health and futures.” Bookchin’s father, political philosopher Murray Bookchin, inspired this revolutionary model.

This progressive enclave is now under grave threat. Rojava’s model has drawn the ire of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Islamist-rooted party. Erdogan’s government has launched devastating attacks on Kurdish villages.

Over the past few weeks, more than 100,000 people have fled areas seized by Turkish-backed forces. These regions had previously thrived under a Kurdish-led process of multi-ethnic, non-sectarian democratic confederalism.

“It’s not just an aspiration; it is a reality.”

What has prevented a full-scale Turkish invasion thus far is the presence of U.S. forces alongside the Kurds. However, as the American administration shifts, Erdogan is emboldened.

This is a David-and-Goliath struggle, a stateless people defending their hard-won freedoms against a NATO member. The threats against them are appallingly underreported in the U.S. media.

Rojava’s survival is far beyond a geopolitical issue; it’s a moral imperative. We must demand that our leaders condemn Turkey’s aggression and pledge long-term support for Kurdish women. The Emergency Committee for Rojava website (defendrojava.org) offers a script for calling your representative and senator. Together, we can support a group that proves women’s contributions are essential to a free and peaceful Syria. Let’s not let this feminist enclave become another Afghanistan or Iran.

AVA HOMA is the author of Daughters of Smoke and Fire and a faculty member at CSUMB.