BERÇEM CÛDÎ

Kobanê – The jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has committed violations against different ethnic and religious identities in Syria since it took control of Syria nine months ago. The violations committed by HTS are similar to the massacres carried out by ISIS in the country. The rights violations committed against the Alawites in Syrian coastal areas, and the Druze people living in Sweida reveal the extent of the genocidal practices of HTS.

Women living in Kobanê, a city in the Euphrates Canton of North and East Syria condemn the attacks and violations of the jihadist group HTS in Syria, stressing that the violations pose a threat to the future of women.

‘HTS has shattered the hopes of Syrian people’

Nadiya Hiso, one of the women in Kobanê, recalled the attacks of ISIS and the resistance of the Syrian people against them and emphasized that the fall of the Assad regime built up the Syrian people’s hopes. “However, HTS has the same mindset of ISIS, shattering the hopes of Syrian people. The attacks and massacres carried out against the Alawites and the Druze reveal the mindset of HTS.”

‘We reject a government ignoring women’

Nadiya Hiso told us that they did not recognize the Syrian interim government led by HTS, condemning the rights violations against women.

“Women’s rights and identity are ignored. This approach poses a great threat and risk to us, women. After years of resistance and suffering, and demands for a common and peaceful life, we, as women and Syrian society, reject a government ignoring women, imposing a jihadist mindset on people. We must raise our voices against this system and the jihadists violating the rights of the Syrian people, particularly women. As women, we do not trust the Syrian army and we see it as a threat to the future of Syria.”

‘The light of hope has turned into fear’

Syria has been dragged into a cycle of violence and destruction for nine months, said Zeyneb Hasan, another woman in Kobanê. “People suffered from a crisis due to the policies of the Baathist regime. Therefore, they looked forward to the collapse of the regime and the establishment of a new system. The attacks of HTS and its government have made the lives of the Syrian people worse. People still suffer from displacement, massacres, insecurity and instability, looting, destruction and hunger. The armed groups have spread in Syria and they call themselves as groups of the Syrian army.  The Syrian people are exhausted from war, knowing that all families have been already affected by war.”

‘Women do not recognize a government that does not recognize their will’

Zeyneb Hasan believes that the Syrian interim government openly does not recognize the will of women. “The Syrian crisis and the experience of women in North and East Syria once again reveal the importance of women's participation in decision-making positions. We cannot talk about democracy and equality in a country where women do not enjoy their rights and freedoms. Therefore, we, as women, do not recognize a government that does not recognize women’s rights and will.”

As a young woman following the developments in Syria, Rohilat Abdi condemned the attacks carried out by the jihadist-armed groups of the Syrian interim government. “The Syrian people deserve an equal, democratic and free future. There has been chaos in Syria for nine months. The jihadist-armed groups have been building the future of Syria with blood.”