GULNAR ROJ

Aleppo- Turkey has violated the rights of the people of Afrin, Serêkaniyê, Girê Spi, al-Bab, and Jarablus since it took the control of these cities. Women living in these areas are the most subjected to these rights violations. They have been subjected to all forms of torture; they are murdered, kidnapped, raped, and harassed. Although their rights have been violated openly, all states and organizations continue to remain silent against these rights violations.

While women continue to be subjected to rights violations in these areas, women have begun to celebrate International Women’s Day all around the world. But the women living in these regions are deprived of celebrating their day. Heyfa Hesen, executive of the Syrian Women's Council in Aleppo, spoke to NuJINHA about the living conditions of the women living in occupied regions.

“Women keep struggling”

Referring to the meaning and importance of International Women's Day, on March 8, Heyfa Hesen told us that they, as women's organizations in Aleppo, organize various events and activities every year on March 8. Pointing out the situation of the women living in the occupied regions, Heyfa Hesen said, “Syria has gone through a sensitive process. Syria has suffered from a crisis for a while. Threats against safe zones continue and the reason for these attacks is to destroy security in these regions. The attacks are particularly carried out by the occupying Turkish state and external powers. The dirty practices carried out against women in the occupied regions are terrifying. Women show great resistance against the Turkish state and its mercenaries in the regions. The resisting women have faced massacres. Despite the massacres, women keep struggling.”

“They want to break the will of women”

“The spark of IWD has been extinguished in the occupied regions,” Heyfa Hesen said, “The sovereign powers want to break the will of women and they aim to annihilate us, women. Women represent their society. The level of women's freedom determines the freedom level of their society. Now they want to spread the ideology of ISIS by leaving women without a role and mission in the occupied areas. Women living in the occupied areas cannot celebrate International Women’s Day now. We hope all women unite and we perpetuate freedom. We will continue to struggle until we get our rights back.”

Heyfa Hesen called on all human rights organizations to not remain silent against ongoing rights violations. “Turkey should be prosecuted for the crimes it has committed. The organizations claiming they protect women’s rights should fulfill their duties.”