EMÎLÎ SELÛM

Deir ez-Zor- Women living in the city of Deir ez-Zor and its villages lived in a tribal society where they had no role except doing housework, getting married, and taking care of children. They were also responsible for farming and did not have the right to education. They could only get married to members of their tribe. Women were also deprived of the right to inherit. In 2014, ISIS took the control of the city and its villages. And this situation affected women the most. Under the rule of ISIS, women were deprived of all of their rights. The women were even banned from visiting their neighbors. But this situation changed in 2019. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) liberated the region from ISIS and put an end to the persecution and violence against women lasting for four years in the name of customs, traditions, and religion.

“Oppression, violence and humiliation”

Newal Mihemed, a member of the Women's Committee in Deir ez-Zor, defined the period under the control of ISIS as an “atmosphere of oppression, violence, and humiliation”. Stating that women lost all of their rights under the control of ISIS, Newal Mihemed said, “Before the control of ISIS, women, who lost their husbands, could work to look after their children. When ISIS took the control of the city, they didn’t allow women to work. They didn’t allow women to go out without a male guardian.” Newal Mihemed talked about the colorful local clothes of the women in Deir ez-Zor, “But ISIS forced the women to wear black burqas. Wearing black burqas is not the culture in the region. Today, many women still wear black burqas and veils in fear of ISIS. Even after the defeat of ISIS, the men of the region did not allow the women in their families to throw off the veils.”

“Life in the city has changed”

Stating that the situation of women and the entire society in the region has changed a lot after the liberation of the region from ISIS, Newal Mihemed said, “Women were neglected under the rules of the Syrian regime and ISIS. But after the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) liberated the region, the situation changed and a safe environment began to emerge in the region. Women have regained their roles in society. They have actively taken part in organizations and they have founded women’s organizations. Women have been freed from oppression thanks to the Autonomous Administration. They have participated in all spheres of life, including politics, defense units, and labor force.”

Meryem El-Zuxeri, a member of the Zenûbiya Women's Community, defined the period under the control of ISIS as “Four years without justice”. “During that period, women didn’t have any rights. We faced many challenges. We faced blackmail; we had to leave our homes. Our properties were stolen. We lost our family members,” Meryem El-Zuxeri said that they regained their rights after the establishment of the Autonomous Administration.

“Women were only seen as servants”

Mona Mehdin, an arts and crafts teacher, told us that they faced many difficulties when the city was under the control of ISIS. “Women were only seen as servants. When women went out, they took the risk of being killed. Since the liberation of the region from ISIS, women have equal rights.”