The attacks launched by Turkey and the affiliated Syrian National Army (SNA) against North and East Syria simultaneously with the operation of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) against Aleppo continue. On 10 December, Kamar al-Soud, a member of Zenubiya Women's Community, Aisha Abdulkadir and Iman were massacred in Manbij, where the attacks intensified.

 

Organised in the cities of Reqa, Tebqa, Manbij and Deir Ez-zor in North and East Syria, Zenubya Women's Community is one of the important women's organisations that develop solutions to social problems such as early marriage, violence against women, murder, divorce, alimony, inheritance and custody of children. Jiyan Dêrik, member of Zenubya Women's Community Assembly, spoke about the attacks in the region and the struggle of women.

 

Jiyan Dêrik, a member of Zenubya Women's Community Assembly

 

3 WOMEN WERE ACTIVE IN THE STRUGGLE

 

Stating that Zenubya Women's Community started to work after the liberation of Manbij from ISIS, Jiyan Dêrik said that their 3 friends who were murdered were pioneering women who were leading the struggle. Emphasising that Kamar El-Soud, Ayşe Abdulkadir and Iman were actively involved in the work, Jiyan Dêrik said: "These friends of ours worked everywhere from the centre of the city to the villages. They were acting with the reality that the Rojava Revolution was a women's revolution. These women lived in a time when women's identity was not recognised. Women who wanted to raise their voices, who opposed the order of ISIS were murdered, subjected to many degrading treatments and raped during this period. After the Rojava Revolution, women started to see the way ahead."

 

PIONEER WOMEN ARE TARGETED

 

Jiyan Dêrik stated that after the liberation of Manbij, many institutions and organisations were built, especially the Women's Houses (Malâ Jina), and underlined that the attacks of Turkey and the SNA threatened these gains. Jiyan Dêrik said that women who lead the struggle are consciously targeted. 

 

The attacks are directed against the gains of Kurds and women and said Jiyan Dêrik and continued as follows: "In the places where the occupation continued, women were kidnapped and subjected to violence as well as being murdered. These women were standing on their feet in the Autonomous Administration and did not accept to be under the yoke. In the person of our 3 women friends, we commemorate all our friends who were martyred for the women's struggle. As long as women live, they will stand against this system."

 

MA / Ceylan Şahinli