Mala Jin combats gender-based violence in shadow of attacks

Mala Jin (English: Women’s House) in Zirgan (Abu Rasin) combats gender-based violence in the shadow of Turkish attacks. “Men and women should fight together against the attacks to build a free and equal life.”

SORGUL ŞÊXO

Zirgan (Abu Rasin)- Wars and conflicts all around the world cause an increase in violence against women and children.

Zirgan (Abu Rasin) in  Syria's northeastern Hasakah province is one of the cities that have been targeted by the Turkish attacks since October 2019. 36 villages of Zirgan, which has 82 villages, are controlled by the Turkish state. Despite all the challenges, women lead the resistance in 46 villages.

Mala Jin (Women’s House) in Zirgan supports women to defend themselves against the Turkish attacks. One of the strategies of the Women's House is to defend women’s rights and to support women survivors of violence.

NuJINHA spoke to Sediya Eydo, the manager of the Mala Jin in Zirgan, about their activities.

‘The Women’s House also provides educational training to men’

The Women’s House is a center that defends women’s rights, Sediya Eydo said. “The Women’s House provides educational training to both women and men. Unfortunately, incidents of marital discord are on the rise. In recent years, we have received cases of polygamy and early marriage. The biggest reason for the increase in such cases is the ongoing Turkish attacks, causing both economic and psychological problems.”

Early marriage

Sediya Eydo drew attention to the increase in early marriage in the region. “Families marry off their daughters at an early age because they are afraid that their daughters will be kidnapped by the members of the Turkish-backed factions. For instance, a father had seven daughters and faced financial problems. He married off one of his daughters at an early age because he was afraid that his daughter would be kidnapped and raped by the members of the Turkish-backed factions. Women and girls are subjected to violence due to the Turkish attacks.”

They solve problems faced by women

Speaking about the activities of the Women’s House, she said, “When a woman faces a problem, she applies to the Women’s House. The Women’s House does its best to solve her problem. For instance, one woman living in Germany applied to us because her husband wanted to marry here. She applied to us to resolve this problem. As the Women’s House, we took the necessary steps and prevented the man from marrying again.”

‘A free life is possible’

Building a free life is a response to the patriarchal mindset and the Turkish occupation, Sediya Eydo stressed. “Women are subjected to violence by their spouses and fathers at home and by the Turkish state outside. A free life is possible if we fight against the patriarchal mindset and the Turkish occupation. Men and women should fight together against the attacks and violence to build a free and equal life.”

Cases received by the Women’s House since November 2019

From November 2019 to November 2024, the Women’s House received 172 cases, concluding 120 cases and referring 40 cases to the Court of Justice and 12 cases to the Internal Security Forces. The Women’s House concluded seven of the polygamy cases, and referred 11 polygamy cases to the Court of Justice. The Women’s House resolved nine family problems and referred six family problems to the Internal Security Forces. Three cases of threats and harassment, 13 financial problems faced by women and three alimony discussions were resolved. The Women’s House concluded 24 early marriage cases and referred four of early marriage cases to the Court of Justice. Seven cases related to public issues were resolved and two cases related to public issues were referred to the Internal Security Forces. The house resolved one assault case and referred four assault cases to the Internal Security Forces and resolved a kidnapping case. It also resolved an insult case, a child custody case and a debt case.