Self-Defense Forces (Rojava)

Self-Defense Forces (Kurdish: Hêzên Xweparastinê‎, abbreviated as HXP; Arabic: قوات الحماية الذاتية‎, translit. Quwwāt al-himāyati al-dhātiyati‎) is a multi-ethnic territorial defense militia and the only conscript armed force in the Federation of Northern Syria – Rojava. As a self-defense troop, HXP is locally recruited from wherever people live. The main task of HXP is to garrison the local area in different cantons of Rojava, so that YPG can fight in the frontline and terrorist attack can be avoided.^[1] Though officially claimed as a self-defense troop behind frontline, HXP has de facto participated some SDF's attacks against ISIL outside its own canton. The commander-in-chief of HXP is Renas Roza,^[2] who was the YPG commander in Ras al-Ayn.

Name and Translation

The official name of HXP in Kurdish is Hêzên Xweparastinê. But in HXP's logo of Afrin Canton, there is another Kurdish name “Hêza Parastina Xweser” which may be only used in this canton. In some Kurdish news, “Erka Xweparastinê” has been used to entitle HXP.

The main English translation of HXP is Self-Defense Forces. Another rare translation is Autonomous Protection Force (abbreviated as APF),^[3] which often creates confusion that APF is a different armed force from HXP.

Conscription, Training and Service

Though Rojava official said the self-defense duty “is not conscription”,^[4] the fact is in the contrary. HXP becomes the first and only armed force of conscription in Rojava.

The formation and conscription of HXP is legally based on the self-defense duty law (Kurdish: Erka Xweparastinê‎) of different Rojava cantons, which has be respectively approved by the Legislative Assembly (Kurdish: Meclîsa Zagonsaz‎) in every canton. According to the law, Defense Council (Kurdish: Desteya Parastin‎) of each canton opened the Center for Self-Defense Duty (Kurdish: Navenda Erka Xweparastinê‎) to register and recruit HXP.

Young man in 18-30 (in Afrin canton, may be 18-40^[5]) has the duty to serve in HXP, except the “disabled or sick”, the family of martyr, of the member in Asayish, KCK or YPG, and of only son.^[6][7] After register and recruitment, the Center for Self-Defense Duty will provide the recruits with military books, and then send them to the training camp.^[8]

The introduction of conscription has caused some tension in Rojava. Some people attempt to escape the recruitment in different ways (for example, travel abroad to Turkey and Iraq, not register in the Center for Self-Defense Duty). Thus the Asayish is ordered to arrest people who escape the self-defense duty and force them to undertake the duty. The conscription has also been criticized and rejected by Kurdish National Council, the main opposition party in Rojava.^[9]

The recruits will be trained by YPG in camp. The training generally lasts for 45 days,^[10] but sometimes for 40 days (for example, the first session of HXP in Jazira canton is 40 days) or one month (like the first session of HXP in Afrin canton). The training includes military structure and tactic, ideology and the interaction with civilians.^[11] After training, the recruit will begin to serve in HXP.

Initially, the service in HXP was for 6 months. But in January 2015, 6 months has been extended to 9 months.^[12]

History of HXP in Different Cantons

The HXP was firstly formed in Jazira Canton. Jazira canton approved the self-defense duty law as early as in July 13, 2014. The first session of HXP started to be trained in October 11, 2014, which means the foundation of Self-Defense Forces.^[13] After training for 40 days, the recruits graduated in November 20, 2014.^[14]

In Afrin canton, the self-defense duty law was introduced in 19 May 2015. And the first center for self-defense duty opened in 4 June.^[15] After training for about one month, the first session of HXP graduated in July 5.^[16]

In July 2014, some news claimed that both Jazira and Kobane canton would introduce conscription.^[17][18] But the introduction of self-defense duty law and the opening of the Center didn’t happen until June 4, 2016 in Kobane canton.^[19] It is possible that Kobane Canton attempted to introduce conscription as early as in July 2014, but had to suspend such attempt for certain unknown reason. The first session of HXP was recruited in June 20, 2016 and graduated in July 25th.^[20]

Military Discipline Unit

HXP founded Military Discipline Unit (Yekîneyên Disiplîna Leşkerî;Arabic: وحدات الانضباط العسكري‎, translit. Waḥdāt al-inḍibāṭi al-'askariyyi‎) in 23 July 2015. The main task of this troop is to ensure discipline and abiding to law in HXP.^[21] It may be the only wearing epaulette armed troop in Rojava.

See also

• Rojava
• Syrian Democratic Forces
• List of armed groups in the Syrian Civil War

References

Rojava articles
History	Syrian Civil War Rojava conflict History of human rights in Rojava Historic Background of Rojava History of the Kurds History of the Assyrians Archeological Tell Halaf Tell Barri Tell Brak Hamoukar Urkesh Chagar Bazar Tell Arbid Tell Leilan Carchemish Tell Taban Dūr-Katlimmu
Geography	Subdivisions Jazira Canton Kobanî Canton Afrin Canton Shahba region Towns Al-Hasakah Al-Qamishli Manbij Kobanî Afrin Ras al-Ayn Amuda Al-Malikiyah Tell Rifaat Al-Qahtaniyah Al-Shaddadah Al-Muabbada Tell Abyad Al-Sabaa wa Arbain Jandairis Al-Manajir Qabasin Kurd Mountains Khabur River
Politics	Libertarian socialism Libertarian municipalism Democratic Confederalism Jineology Constitution of Rojava Government of Rojava Human rights in Rojava Foreign relations of Rojava Parliament Political parties Voting Police Sutoro Self-Defense Forces Syrian Democratic Forces People's Protection Units Syriac Military Council Army of Revolutionaries Al-Sanadid Forces
Economy	Economy of Rojava
Culture	Flag of Rojava Demographics of Rojava People Kurds Syrians Assyrians Turkmen Armenians Circassians Yazidis Bedouin Languages Northern Kurdish North Mesopotamian Arabic Assyrian Neo-Aramaic, Chaldean Neo-Aramaic, Turoyo Syrian Turkmen
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