The courses opened by the Silopiya (Silopi) Municipality of Şirnex (Şırnak), which is under the management of the People's Democratic Party (HDP), in the Women's Labor Market of the municipality against assimilation policies, attract great attention. Emphasizing that culture is the identity of a people, the women said that their aim with the şeleme, dezbing, teşî, nexş, tevn and doxîn courses opened in the market is to transfer a culture that is facing extinction to new generations.

 

HISTORICAL CULTURE: SELEME

 

Sadiye Eren (53), a woman who makes shawarma, touched upon the difficulties of production and stated that it is the responsibility of women to preserve this culture. Eren stated that şeleme is a historical culture and was used by men and women and said, “In the past, şeleme was frequently used in daily life. However, as time went by, it began to be used only at weddings. Older people wear them over the local clothes they wear in daily life. Making şeleme is very difficult and requires effort. Someone who is illustrating must have good eyesight and light hands. Scheme consists of many colors. However, it is also optional. If you don't practice constantly, you will forget how to do it. For this, it is necessary to do it and constantly show it to the environment. One needs to protect one's own culture." 

 

CULTURE OF THE WOMEN: TESI

 

Touching on the importance of Teşî, Zehra Alga (49) said: “Teşî is a women's culture. When women went to the plateaus, they would make bags, tents, socks, bags and many other things with teşî. Women did everything with enthusiasm. First, they spin the wool using teşî. They then make everything with the threads they obtain from this wool. We do not want this culture to disappear. We want this culture to remain alive. But unfortunately it is currently facing extinction. With the development of technology, this culture began to take a backseat. The identity of a people is its culture. This is also our culture, so we must not forget it. It's up to us, especially women, not to let this be forgotten."

 

STATE OBSTACLES

 

One of the women, Nuriye Atmış (60), pointed out the state's pressure on Kurdish culture and asked for women to embrace their culture. Stating that they are struggling to keep their culture alive, Atmış said: “In the past, women did everything with their own hands. We even knitted the clothes our children wore with our own hands. But that's not the case right now. At this point, the state also plays a big role. The state does not allow Kurdish culture to survive. They closed all cultural and artistic institutions. Despite these policies of the state, we need to keep our culture alive. We want the new generation, especially women, to listen to us and keep this culture alive. Despite all these policies, we need to live our own culture in every aspect of life." 

 

'CULTURE MUST BE PROTECTED'

 

Besna Aslan, who made Nexş, touched upon the effects of technology on culture and said: “We are here to ensure that our culture is not forgotten. Our culture is a natural culture. In the past, there was no electricity, we earned our living by working hard. We women used to do this for pillows and quilts. Sometimes we would hang it on the wall of the house and use it as decoration. There was no woman who did not know how to do nexş. When we made the nexş, we would embroider the pattern we wanted on it. However, this culture also faces extinction. Now they buy what comes out of the factories. If we women forget this culture, our children will too. Therefore, it is our duty as women to keep this culture alive and to oppose assimilation policies. My call to all women; Come to the courses and learn your culture.”

 

MA / Zeynep Durgut