Locals in Manbij: For us, Eid has been the liberation of our village

Residents of the liberated villages say they can celebrate the Eid freely because of the Manbij Military Council fighters.

Um Adesh village to the south of Manbij has two eids. Liberated in the Manbij operation launched on June 1, the Um Adesh village will celebrate the first free Ramadan holiday following a 3-year ISIS invasion.

Um Adesh villlagers say the Manbij Military Council gave them the most beautiful Eid gift by liberating their village.

A villager, Ebû Ubeyd, said they couldn’t even go out on normal days due to the oppression of the ISIS gangs, and they faced countless insults every day when they did. He emphasized that the gangs extorted money from the whole village under the guise of “tax”, especially before Eids.

Ebû Ubeyd said he couldn’t express the joy of liberation with words and that they were in debt to the Manbij Military Council fighters who brought them freedom, they were able to celebrate a free Eid because of them.

Another villager named Xalid El Velid said they went through truly hard days, that he was whipped in the street last year before the Eid by ISIS gangs for his mouth smelling of cigarettes.

Xalid El Velid said the most meaningful Eid for them was their village being liberated from the gangs and celebrated the Eid for the Manbij Military Council fighters advancing by liberating the city center street by street.

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