In the fractured and war-torn landscape of Syria, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria — commonly known as Rojava — has become a rallying point for revolutionaries worldwide. Established during the Syrian civil war, Rojava’s political framework is grounded in democratic confederalism — a vision of society that foregrounds grassroots democracy, gender equality, and ecological harmony. Its system has united diverse communities from Kurds to Arabs, Assyrians, and others under the banner of peaceful coexistence and social justice.

This vision drew internationalists like Oğuz Yüzgeç and Sercan Üstündaş, who saw Rojava as a revolutionary model with global implications, to join the struggle to defend it. But in 2021, they were ambushed by forces loyal to dictator Bashar al-Assad and jailed. It was only last month, with his overthrow, that Oğuz and Sercan were finally released from the notorious Palestine Branch 235 prison in Damascus.

From defending Kobane against the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) to surviving torture in Assad’s jail, their journeys highlight the sacrifices and resilience required to sustain a revolutionary vision in the face of immense challenges. Vedat Yeler spoke to the two released activists about their experience and the future prospects for their movement.

Joining the Fight in Rojava

Lessons From the Front Lines of a Revolution

Capture by Assad’s Goons

Life in Assad’s Prison: Torture, Isolation, and Survival

Escape and Return

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Contributors

Oğuz Yüzgeç was active in socialist youth movements during his school and university years in Turkey. His first arrest was for taking part in Newroz, the national holiday and day of resistance of the Kurdish people, in solidarity as a Turk. In 2015, he survived the Suruc massacre, an ISIS attack on a group traveling to Kobane in solidarity. He now lives in Rojava and contributes to its development.

Sercan Üstündaş has been an active member of various socialist parties since 2006. He was imprisoned for five years over several cases in Turkey, including the Gezi trial. He is a long-standing activist in Rojava.

Vedat Yeler is an independent journalist based in Athens, Greece. He writes about migration, borders, politics, and human rights with the focus on Kurds, Turkey, Greece, and the Middle East.

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