Zeinab Khalif

Deir ez-Zor – In 2014, ISIS carried out a massacre against the al-Shaitat tribe in Deir ez-Zor province, North and East Syria. Today, women, who lost loved ones stand as witnesses to an atrocity that will never be forgotten.
One of these women carries the weight of loss in her heart, and has become a symbol of sacrifice and resilience. A mother who lost her son, a wife who lost her husband, and a sister who lost her brother — she remains strong, full of life, and determined to plant hope in the hearts of survivors.
Across the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, stories are told of women who were among the first victims of the extremist group, yet become enduring symbols of resistance and defiance. Their testimonies preserve the memory for all who seek to rebuild what war has destroyed. But even after eleven years, the wounds of the massacre remain open. Mothers still wait for their children who never return, and the spirits of children linger in the memories of survivors, bearing witness to a dark chapter of terror and brutality
From religious deception to mass killings
Ghada Adel, a woman from the al-Shaitat tribe, recalls the harrowing days between 8 and 15 August 2014. “ISIS fighters first entered our area under the guise of religion, convincing people they carried an Islamic project to restore values and principles. Some residents, believing they were witnessing positive religious change, initially accepted them. But reality quickly revealed a far darker face,” she said.
“As soon as ISIS secured control, a new phase of blood and fear began. The militants carried out systematic assassinations, imposed their rulings in the name of sharia, and distorted Quran verses to justify beheadings, the execution of children, and mass killings,” she added.
According to Ghada, the al-Shaitat area tribe endured some of the group’s worst atrocities. “One of the most horrific incidents was the beheading of four children in front of their father, who sat in shock for days, unable to bury them. The killing of these children was one of the worst atrocities of ISIS— but Islam is innocent of such crimes,” she said.
Psychological scars, human tragedy
The massacre was not only inflicted with bullets and blades — it shattered minds and spirits. Mothers suffered from psychological problems, families were torn apart, and several women suffered strokes from the trauma. Children under the age of 14 were executed on charges of apostasy, their lifeless, decapitated bodies forever etched into the community’s collective memory.
“This was not the end,” Ghada said. “Alongside the killings, ISIS looted, stole, and destroyed property, exploiting religion as a tool to justify their absolute control.”
Remembering the massacre as an act of defiance
Every year on August 8, families of the victims gather not only to mourn, but also to affirm that those killed will never be forgotten and that their blood was not shed in vain. Through speeches, photographs, and visits to graves, they keep the memory alive for future generations.
“In August 2014, we suffered from a tragedy that only those who were there can truly understand,” said Sahar al-Abd, another survivor. “We lost more than 1,200 people— most of them were our sons, husbands, and brothers. We were displaced, our lives turned into hell. They ordered us to leave our homes, to evacuate by announcing from mosques. We fled to Hajin, then Abu Hardub, and later returned to al-Naba and al-Nasir in al-Shaitat.”
She added, “When we left our homes, ISIS wrote their slogans on the doors. Men were killed— many were executed in the streets. This is not religion; Islam is innocent of such crimes. Al-Shaitat was the only area subjected to such brutal punishment. But we endured, and with the support of the Syrian Democratic Forces and local residents, we were freed from ISIS.”
After the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) liberated the area in spring 2019, “life began to return gradually,” Sahar said. “The women’s units helped us to rebuild the village, restored the role of women, and supported the establishment of community organizations. We had water and power again.  Despite all we had lost, we became hopeful thanks to them.”
‘Grief feels unbearable’
With tears in her eyes, Yaziyah al-Hussein remembered the day when she lost her four sons. “They’re all gone… One of them told me, ‘Get in the car, we’ll follow you.’ They left and never came back. We left our home on a Thursday — a day that will never be forgotten. Grief feels unbearable, like your heart being killed a thousand times. Our hearts are still in pieces.”
Nusra al-Abd al-Ghani remembers the moment when her husband disappeared: “He said he would go out to see what was happening, and never returned. We still do not know what happened to him. Two or three days later, we fled as well. I was pregnant — I don’t even know how I gave birth amid all that pain.”
For Fatima al-Abd al-Qasim, now 11 years old, she lost her father during the massacre. “I was only six months old when he left and never came back. I know him only from pictures. I do not remember his face, I never heard his voice or felt his embrace. I cry whenever I see his photo. I live among those who tell me stories about him, but I am a child still waiting for her father.”
Memory that will not forgotten
The al-Shaitat massacre was not merely another chapter in Syria’s war — it marked a turning point between pain and resilience, between death and survival. Despite the immense losses, the people of the region remain steadfast, carrying their story like a flag that will never fall down. From beneath the rubble, women’s voices have risen — to speak, to mourn, and to lead the way toward a future where ISIS and armed groups like ISIS have no place.