SILVA AL-IBRAHIM

Manbij- The violent conflicts in the Middle East have intensified, turning into the Third World War. Although women and children are the most affected by these conflicts, they are completely ignored by the media.

Women struggle to overcome challenges faced by them amid conflicts, said Rukiye Muhammed, coordinating members of the Zenûbiya Women’s Community. “Women play an active role in ending conflicts and building peace.”

Call on women to unite

“Women living in the Middle Eastern countries such as Lebanon, Palestine, North and East Syria, and Iran have experienced the same things,” Rukiye Muhammed said. “If women unite, they can build global peace. Despite all kinds of oppression, restrictions, women always rise like a phoenix from the ashes. For instance, women in Iran and Eastern Kurdistan started the ‘Jin,Jiyan, Azadi’ revolution following the killing of Jina Amini.”

Recalling the genocide committed by ISIS against the Yazidi community in Shengal (Sinjar), Rukiye Muhammed said, “Yazidi women were abducted, raped and sold in slave markets. But today, Yazidi women have participated in all facets of life, including politics and military. They have their own defense force and protect their people from a new genocide.”

‘Women are no longer victims of war’

Women in North and East Syria were subjected to the atrocity of ISIS, Ruken Muhammed said, “Many women were killed and stoned by ISIS. But today, these women participate in politics and the military to serve their people. These women are no longer victims of war, they fight to protect their people and build peace.”

‘The aim is to change the demographic structure’

Speaking about the ongoing Turkish attacks on North and East Syria, Ruken Muhammed criticized the international silence against the attacks. “The aim of these attacks is to change the demographic structure of the region. The ongoing conflicts in the Middle East kill and displace women and children. Women struggle to survive in silence.”

Women's participation in peace processes

Rukiye Muhammed calls on women to participate in peace processes because “this is not a situation that men can solve. If women participate in peace processes, peace will become permanent. As women, we should break the patriarchy and bring peace and security to the Middle East. We must turn the 21st century into a century of Jin,Jiyan, Azadî.”