SIBELIA EL-IBRAHIM

Manbij-On June 10, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria announced in a written statement that it would establish a tribunal to prosecute more than 10,000 foreign ISIS members according to regional and international laws.

Families of fighters, who lost their lives while fighting ISIS in Manbij, express their support for the decision of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) on the prosecution of ISIS members. 65-year-old Nabiha Al-Huseyin from the Moqbilat Al-Bireh village of Manbij, said, “ISIS took control of the city of Manbij in late 2013 and created a chaotic atmosphere in the city; the mercenaries began to oppress the residents, impose unjust laws on them, restrict their freedom and force women to wear headscarves.”

‘ISIS arrested those who refused to join them’

While talking about the atrocity of ISIS in Manbij, Nabiha Al-Huseyin said, “One day, a member of ISIS stopped me and asked me why I did not wear a veil. They built fear among people by committing inhumane crimes against people such as beheading and hanging civilians. Once, they beheaded an old man in the village and his body remained in the village for days. ISIS forced people to join them. They arrested those who refused to join them.”

‘They did not allow me to mourn for my sons’

Nabiha Al-Huseyin’s two sons were arrested for refusing to join ISIS. “One night, ISIS raided our house and arrested my two sons. I saw how they tied my son’s hands and put black tapes over their eyes but I could not do anything. Villagers used to go to the detention center of ISIS to learn what happened to their relatives. I also went there to get information about my sons. I learned that my sons had been killed. They did not allow me to mourn for my sons. They did not allow me to accept condolences.”

‘I felt like I was reborn when the city was liberated’

Nabiha Al-Huseyin told us how they felt happy when they heard the launch of the military campaign to liberate Manbij on June 1, 2016 by the Manbij Military Council. “We were happy that we would finally be freed from all inhuman practices. The Manbij Military Council defeated ISIS and liberated villages. Manbij was completely liberated from ISIS on August 16, 2016. I felt like I was reborn when the city was liberated.”

‘Our wounds will not heal without the prosecution of ISIS’

Nabiha Al-Huseyin supports the decision of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) on the prosecution of ISIS members. “ISIS members must be prosecuted for brutally killing thousands of innocent people. Our wounds will not heal without the prosecution of ISIS.”

She looks for her husband in mass graves

40-year-old Fadia Ahmed Al-Huseyin from Manbij’s Moqbilat Al-Bireh village is one of the women who lost their lives when the city was controlled by ISIS. Her husband was arrested by ISIS on August 4, 2014.

“After the arrest of my husband, I had to work to earn a living for my family. My husband was a lawyer and he received threats. One day, one of his friends came to our house and told me that my husband had been arrested by ISIS. After a while, I decided to visit him in prison. I visited him several times. Then, I learned that he had been tortured to death in prison.”

However, Fadia Ahmed Al-Huseyin never received the body of her husband. “I look for his body in mass graves but I have not found him yet. When we heard that a military campaign was launched to liberate Manbij, we understood that they would be free again. We demand ISIS members be immediately prosecuted for their crimes.”