Following the occupation of Afrin by the Turkish state and affiliated gangs, acts of repression and harassment against women have become widespread. The acts perpetrated by ISIS gangs against women in Shengal are continued in Afrin by Turkish forces and mercenaries who force women to wear hijab and cover their faces.

Members of the Kurdish women’s movement Kongra-Star in Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood spoke to ANHA about the atrocities suffered by women in Afrin.

Condemning the gangs’ acts of repression and harassment, Hemide Dewaxa stated that women of Afrin are subjected to harassment, abduction and torture on daily basis. She underlined that these practices will never break the will of women, adding; “Our resistance and our land is our honor.”

Kongra-Star member Emel Hori described the acts of fascist occupying forces in Afrin as “practices of special war”, saying; “The sale of women by ISIS at markets in Raqqa is known to everyone. The gangs are trying to do the same thing in Afrin today. They aim to suppress the will of women.”

Hori pointed out that heroines like Avesta Xabur and Arin Mirkan represent the will of women against the gangs in the resistance in Afrin.

“As Kongra Star, we are ready for any and all sacrifices for the liberation of Afrin”, she underlined.

Kongra-Star member Asya Mihemed vowed that; “We will never accept a repetition of what was done to women in Shengal and Raqqa. We will continue to resist and we will liberate the women of Afrin.”

Cihan Hesen told the following; “Everyone should know that we will not leave the women of Afrin alone. The gangs that have nothing to do with Islam will be expelled from Afrin. We, women of Sheikh Maqsoud, will continue our resistance. The acts of the gangs show clearly what kind of mentality they have.”