Hayat Tahrir al-Sham members prevent women from receiving treatment

Breast cancer patient Rola El-Saîd and colon cancer patient Emîra El-Osman tried to go to the region controlled by the regime forces to receive treatment. However, Hayat Tahris al-Sham members prevented them from entering the region

HEDÎL EL-OMER

Idlib – Many women living in Idlib face bans imposed by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, is an active Sunni Islamist militant group. The Islamist militant group does not allow patients seeking treatment to enter the region controlled by the regime forces.

“I was threatened”

Breast cancer patient Rola El-Saîd (35) told NuJINHA that she tried to go to the region under the control of the regime forces for treatment; however, the members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham did not allow her to enter the region. “I am a breast cancer patient. There is no treatment center in Idlib. I have to go to the region under the control of the regime forces or Turkey to receive treatment.”

“I have no hope for treatment”

Underlining that she went to Turkey to receive treatment, Rola El-Saîd said, “The Turkish authorities did not allow me to enter Turkey for treatment. I cannot enter Turkey illegally because I will have to pay 1,000 dollars if I am arrested there. The members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham did not allow me to enter the region controlled by the regime forces. I had to pay 200 dollars in order to enter the region. However, I was arrested by the members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and I was threatened by them. Now, I have no hope for treatment. I give up struggling.”

“They forced me to sign a document”

Colon cancer patient Emîra El-Osman (28) was also prevented by the members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham from entering the region controlled by the regime forces. “I tried to enter the region illegally; however, the members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham arrested me. They held me in a room for 48 days. They forced me to sign a document stating that I will not go close to the region and try to enter the region. After signing the document, they released me. I want to go to the region again to receive treatment. I will not bow to threats.”

“Alternative ways must be found”

A 45-year-old female doctor Yasemîn El-Şêx pointed out that women patients need alternative ways to receive treatment. “Relevant people must find alternative ways so that patients can receive treatment. Health services in this region are under the control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.”