SÎLVA Al-ÎBRAHÎM

Manbij- The Women's Defense Units (YPJ) played an important role in the liberation of Manbij, a city in northeastern Syria, and lost many of its fighters. Women of Manbij, who were impressed by the resistance of the YPJ formed the Manbij Women’s Military Council under the umbrella of the Manbij Military Council and fought ISIS.

“We have the power and will to protect our city,” they said, emphasizing that they fight with the “Jin, Jiyan, Azadi (Women, Life, Freedom)” philosophy of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan.

‘Many women of Manbij were impressed by the courage of the YPJ fighters’

“ISIS controlled Manbij for about three years, committing crimes against people, especially women. ISIS members used inhuman methods such as torture, arbitrary arrest and stoning people to death,” said Amara İbrahim, a fighter of the Manbij Military Council (MMC).

Amara İbrahim recalled that the offensive to liberate Manbij was launched on June 1, 2016 and said, “The Syrian Democratic Forces, the Manbij Military Council and the Women’s Defense Units launched an offensive to liberate Manbij. The role of women fighters in the offensive was important. The fighters of the YPJ played an important role in the offensive and liberated Manbij from ISIS. Many women of Manbij were impressed by the courage of the YPJ fighters and decided to join the MMC.” 

   

 ‘We will keep resisting’

Then, women joining the MMC formed the Manbij Women’s Military Council. “Women were at the forefront of the resistance against ISIS, defending and liberating their homeland. However, they are targeted by the Turkish state. We vow to do our part despite all the attacks. We will keep resisting until liberating all occupied areas.”

 ‘Our resistance will continue’

“There are women from different nationalities in Manbij such as Kurdish, Arab and Turkmen women,” said Zahra Ali, another fighter of the MMC. “We made many sacrifices to liberate the city of Manbij from ISIS; many of our comrades were killed while fighting ISIS. We will follow in the footsteps of our women martyrs to protect our gains. Today marks the 8th anniversary of the liberation of Manbij. However, the Turkish state attempts to occupy our city. Our resistance against all kinds of attacks on Manbij will continue.”

  

‘We maintain our fight with the philosophy of Jin, Jiyan, Azadi’

We are inspired by the “Jin, Jiyan, Azadi (Women, Life, Freedom)” philosophy of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, MMC fighter Sulafa Tammo stressed, adding, “Our duty is to resist and defend our homeland. Women fighters of the MMC are at the forefront of the resistance against all kinds of the Turkish attacks on their own homeland. We maintain our fight with the philosophy of Jin, Jiyan, Azadi.”