SORGÜL ŞÊXO

Qamishlo- Arab women have been leading the July 19 Revolution in North and East Syria. Mihdiya Hilal is an Arab woman. She was rescued from ISIS by YPJ/YPG fighters in Midliîye village located on Kizwan Mountain, 50 kilometers west of Hasakah. She joined the Women’s Internal Security Forces in 2016 and became the first woman joining the security forces in her tribe. She is now the General Director of the Women’s Internal Security Forces. In an interview with NuJINHA, she told her story.

 ‘Women were seen only as domestic servants’

Mihdiya Hilal told us that she grew up in a family, where women were seen only as 'domestic servants’, were grown up for marriage, and seeing polygamy normal. “As girls, we only did housework and worked in agriculture. All my sisters got married and started their own families. I did not get married because I had a goal and a dream.”

‘My path was more important than the rumors in society’

Mihdiya Hilal’s dream was to become a fighter. “I always wanted to see women fighters and I saw them thanks to the July 19 Revolution.” However, Mihdiya Hilal faced many obstacles when she wanted to participate in revolutionary activities.

“Our village was too far from where the fighters were positioned. When our region was liberated from ISIS, I wanted to join them. Then, I wanted to make contact with the Internal Security Forces; however, I thought about what my uncles and my family members would say. Then, I decided to join them by risking everything. I filled out all the necessary documents to join and applied to the Women’s Internal Security Forces. After applying to the security forces, I told my family that I wanted to be a fighter. It was my path and my path was more important than the rumors in society.”

‘My family faced social oppression’

Noting that she is the first woman from her tribe, who joined the Women’s Internal Security Forces, she said, “Amidst so many traditional barriers, joining the security forces as an Arab woman was very new for my society. My family faced social oppression but they supported me. Still, we struggle against the rumors in our society.” After joining the security forces, she received training and learned all the details for being a fighter.

‘We must show that this world is not a men's world’

After the YPJ/YPG and Internal Security Forces liberated many other areas, many Arab women joined the Women’s Internal Security Forces.

“That time, Shaddadi and Deir ez-Zor were newly liberated from ISIS. In this region, women faced many customs and traditions. We managed to guide women to erase the traces left by tribal mentality and ISIS, to change their fate and to join the labor force. Arab women were threatened with death in order to discourage them from choosing their path. But we were determined to encourage them so that they could make decisions about their own lives. The patriarchal mindset has been usurping women's rights for thousands of years. As women, we should not accept this. We must show that this world is not a men’s world.”

When Mihdiya Hilal first joined the security forces, she was shy and hesitant but she managed to leave everything that the patriarchal system imposed on her. “Sometimes, I say, ‘This is me, Mihdiya?’. Sometimes, I am surprised at the level I’ve reached. Because I did not believe that I would be such a strong woman. I have changed after the July 19 Revolution and learning the paradigm of leader Abdullah Öcalan. If I had not joined the security forces, I would be a married woman having many children.”

‘We believe in women’s freedom’

Mihdiya Hilal told us that as women fighters, they believe in women’s freedom and women’s cause for freedom. “We fight the patriarchal mindset. Some of our male comrades say they do not allow their sisters and mothers to join any activity. We should first change this mindset. We should fight to end violence against women and femicide.”

‘We should give a helping hand to women who do not know us’

Mihdiya Hilal is now the General Director of the Women’s Internal Security Forces. She believes that women should unite and be in solidarity with each other to fight for their freedom. “Our burden is very heavy. We must protect women and strengthen our society. Our main duty is to resist all kinds of attacks. We should give a helping hand to women who do not know us. We will definitely face some challenges in this path but we believe that our cause will guide us.”