HADEEL AL-OMAR

Idlib- Women living in Idlib, controlled by the Turkish state and Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a Turkish-backed faction, are subjected to all forms of violence, threats and exploitation.

‘I was forced to marry a man 20 years older than me’

Amina Haddad, 20, is a victim of early marriage, child marriage. When she was 14, she was forced into marriage and she divorced at the age of 16. “I was forced to marry a man 20 years older than me due to poverty. I was often insulted and subjected to physical violence by my spouse,” she told NuJINHA.

 When Amina Haddad was married off, she did not know what marriage was. “I thought physical violence was a part of marriage. I needed help but I could not tell anyone what I was going through because I was pregnant and afraid of gossip. When I realized that violence would never end, I thought of committing suicide. Then, I left my spouse.”

Amina went to her family’s house and then got a divorce. After giving birth to her child, her family sent her son to his father. “I lost my child and my dream of receiving education. As a divorced woman, I face challenges and social stigma.”

Women have no inheritance rights

Economic violence is one of the forms of violence faced by women in Idlib because they are not allowed to work.

Raghda Al-Houir has lived with her three children since her husband was killed in a clash. “I looked for a job to earn a living for my children; however I could not find one because I am a woman and widow. I demanded my right to inherit my deceased husband's property; however, his relatives rejected it saying, ‘You are a woman and have no inheritance rights’. My children and I live in poverty now.”

Sexual violence is another form of violence faced by women in Idlib. This form of violence is a widespread and unspoken problem faced by women in the workplace and elsewhere.

 ‘I was sexually harassed at work’

Suad Al-Hayat is a 33-year-old woman living in a camp in Idlib. Having four children, Suad Al-Hayat got a divorce and then went to her family’s house. “My family did not allow me to work and go out,” she told us. She found a job to earn a living for herself and her children; however, she was sexually harassed at work. “I had to receive humanitarian aid; however, I was also harassed by a man distributing humanitarian aid.”

Suad Al-Hayat stressed that women face obstacles when they demand their rights. “Violence against women is an obstacle to achieve social equality, development and peace. The international community should support women more and take more action against gender-based violence. Women do not receive financial and psychological support and they are ignored in society.”