SÎLVA EL ÎBRAHÎM

News Center- Following the clearing of ISIS from Manbij, a city in northeastern Syria, Arabs, Kurds, Turkmens and Circassians began to participate in decision-making positions in the city. The city was rebuilt based on democratic nation that embraces people from different nationalities and religions.

Since Manbij was occupied by Turkish-backed factions on December 11, 2024, the situation in the city has become the opposite. The jihadist Syrian National Army (SNA), a Turkish-backed faction, have been committing war crimes against the people of Manbij, destroying education, cultural heritage, literature and arts, health and security services in the city. In a phone call with NuJINHA, the women of Manbij talk about what has changed in the city since the occupation.

‘They have been committing war crimes such as theft, abductions and murder’

A woman from the city of Manbij, who did not want to give her name for security reasons, gave information about the situation in the city.

“Since the armed groups took control of the city, our situation has been deteriorating. Our city has become a city of darkness. At night, no one can go out or walk around the city, because it is not safe. Even citizens cannot have a safe sleep at their homes. We suffer from the lack of food and there is no water or power. Products at the market are too expensive to buy. The members of the armed groups raid homes under false excuses and steal the belongings of citizens. All belongings of our neighbor were stolen. They also arbitrarily arrest people. They kill anyone who stops them from stealing.

‘There are many different armed groups of the Turkish state’

Criminal armed groups cannot govern Syria, the woman stressed, adding:

“The person named Golani previously served as the emir of ISIS but now he serves as the emir of  Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). How can such a person and groups listed as terrorists can govern the country? According to my relatives, there is also a huge chaos in the capital Damascus, even if it is not like in Manbij. There are many armed groups of the occupying Turkish state. These armed groups are called the al-Hamza Division, the Sultan Murad Division and Ahrar al-Sham. These armed groups kill and arrest civilians in Manbij.”

‘The city must be controlled by the SDF’

The Kurdish people in Manbij are afraid that the massacre that took place in Kobanê will also take place in Manbij, the woman said. “I call on the SDF to fight against these armed groups and liberate the city so that the city will have its former status.”

Another woman living in Manbij talked about rights violations committed by the armed groups. “The Kurdish people in the city suffer the rights violations more. The armed groups want the workers to work without salaries.When the city was controlled by the SDF, everyone participated in the labor force and received salaries for their work.”

Women banned from working

According to reports obtained by NuJINHA, women are not allowed to participate in the labor force in the city anymore.

Library burned down along with 20,000 books

After taking control of Manbij, the armed groups also targeted a library called Mihemed Menla Xezil in Manbij. The armed groups burned down the library along with 20,000 books.

Education

When the city was controlled by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), the AANES gave the opportunity to women and men who have a high school degree and graduated at the teacher’s college to become teachers. However, the armed groups also targeted the education system in the city; they dismissed all male and female teachers, who do not have a university degree, causing a significant shortage of teachers.

According to the Education Council of the AANES,  the number of teachers in the city was 5,518 teachers and the number of students was 123,625 before the city was occupied by the armed groups.

Medical equipment of hospital stolen

The health system in Manbij was also targeted by the armed groups. According to local sources, all medical equipment of the Euphrates Hospital in Manbij have been destroyed or stolen and the doctors at the hospital have been dismissed by the armed groups

Although the AANES tries to transfer people to safe areas due to the lack of security in the city, the Turkish-backed factions prevent people from going to safe areas.