SORGUL ŞÊXO

Al Haseke - On March 23, 2019, fighters of the Women's Defense Units (YPJ) and the Syrian Democratic Forces defeated ISIS, a terrorist group comprising of 60 nationalities, in Al-Baghouz, Deir Ezzor. Families of ISIS fighters who surrendered to the Syrian Democratic Forces have lived in the Al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria, 40 kilometers east of Al-Hasakah.

Those families who have a solid awareness of ISIS's ideology in their minds are imprinting that ideology on their children. This role is filled by foreigners' ISIS wives. The "Al-Khansaa Brigade" is a women's group headquartered in the Al-Hol camp. This brigade is known as ISIS's right hand, and it is growing alongside ISIS. Our agency met the camp's director, Hamrin al-Hassan, to find out more about what this brigade is up to inside the camp.

Al-Khansaa Brigade's objectives

 "The Al-Khansaa Brigade has a variety of responsibilities and tasks," Hamrin Al-Hassan explained. "Controlling women's transgressions, communicating with males and their presence together, as well as imposing Islamic garb and the prohibition of appearing in public spaces are some of these tasks." The Islamic State punishes the women's families in addition to the other restrictions it imposes. Inside ISIS, the Al-Khansaa Brigade and Al-Hisbah Al-Nisaa missions are unlike any other. This brigade, made up of hundreds of foreign and Syrian women, monitors the communication and behaviors of girls and women and punishes them if any of its regulations are broken. Financial punishment, psychological and physical tortures are among its consequences, and the punishments have evolved to the point where girls are confined in cages and exposed to the public.

"When they perceive the populace is drifting away from ISIS beliefs, they employ severe and violent punishments."

The most hazardous aspect, according to Hamreen al-Hassan, is that the brigade's duties are not restricted to punishment and prosecution. What's most alarming is that the Hisbah and Khansa Brigade's operations and actions aren't confined to punishing and prosecuting women. When these brigades suspect that other camp occupants have moved away from the ISIS philosophy or seek to spread bad ideas about the organization, they are subjected to whipping, torture, restriction of food and drink, tent burning, and even death. In the camps where ISIS families dwell, 40 people were slaughtered, ten of them being beheaded this year. However, one brigade cannot be held responsible for all crimes."

"They're dangerous women!” she said, “They are indoctrinating and attempting to recruit their youngsters to hard-line Islamist views."  

According to Hamrin Al-Hassan, the women joining this brigade constitute a significant threat to the camp's security. Some women teach their skills to others and their children as a result of their direct terrorist activity or the training they received in ISIS-controlled areas. So, the possibility of transferring the skills they acquired, poses a serious threat to the camp's safety and security. “Furthermore, migrant women are currently campaigning in this manner, with the goal of instilling the concepts of extremism and militarization in the camp by preaching extreme jihadist views to children and the young,” she told us.

"The Al-Khansa Brigade's women are also in charge of the sermons."

"The obligations and tasks of the women's brigade are not confined to surveillance and punishment," Hamrin al-Hassan said, "but also the responsibility of betrothal to members of ISIS groups and radicals in many situations. They frequently force girls to marry. Minors are threatened with death and are under duress. This demonstrates the extent of their brainwashing with extremist ideology, as well as the level of deception perpetrated by ISIS groups and their disconnection from reality. A number of girls have committed suicide as a result of being pressured to marry, which might be their second or third time. Furthermore, the girl's refusal to marry puts her in the path of questioning campaigns. The battalion had previously directed the bride-to-be to wear a white cloth over her face beneath her blackhead covering as confirmation of her commitment to marry.”

"Women make up 4,761 (13%) of the 41,490 people who have joined ISIS."

Hamrin Al-Hassan continued to talk as follows: "Recently, eight women have been implicated in terrorist plans around the world. According to a survey, women make up 4,761 (13%) of the 41,490 foreigners identified as related to the terrorist group in Iraq and Syria from April 2013 to June 2018. Another estimate puts the number of children at 4,640. (or 11  % of the total ). As a result, it is vital that these women return to their home countries to live in an atmosphere free of violence and killing so that their perception will change and they can continue their normal lives."