SÎBÎLYA EL-ÎBRAHÎM

Manbij- The child marriage rates in the Middle Eastern countries have been increasing. The years of war in Syria causes many reactionary groups to take control in cities and towns and this phenomenon to become more widespread. After the start of the Syrian war in 2011, many jihadist groups such as Jabhat al-Nusra and ISIS began to spread their reactionary ideas in North and East Syria and pave the way for child marriage. Since the liberation of the region by the Syrian Democratic Forces, these reactionary factions have been intensifying their attacks even more. As result of the war, the people of the region have been suffering from many social crises and increasing child marriage rate. According to the report released by the Manbij Women’s House, the child marriage rate has been recently increasing in Manbij. The number of children, who were forced into marriage in Manbij and its countryside, was 20 in 2022 and the number of child marriages ending in divorce reached 62 in 2022, the report says. According to the report, the reasons for the increase in divorce cases are ongoing conflicts, marital problems, living conditions, unemployment and extramarital affairs.

“Laws protecting women should be implemented”

Stating that the laws protecting women should be urgently implemented, Jineology Research Center Spokesperson Yasmîn Qoco said that many parents forced their daughters into child marriage after ISIS took the control of Manbij. Pointing out that parents forced their daughters into child marriage due to difficult living condition caused by the Syrian civil war, Yasmîn Qoco said, “Child marriage has many negative effects. Girls and boys under the age of 18 are forced into marriage. The children are forced into marriage before they are not physically and mentally ready. For this reasons, girls died or suffer from physical problems due to miscarriage or abortion”

“Awareness-raising campaigns should be launched”

Emphasizing that the number of child marriages ending in divorce has been increasing, Yasmîn Qoco said, “Awareness-raising campaigns should be launched to end this phenomenon. Women’s organizations are responsible to give information about the risks and negative effects of child marriages. Feminist organizations should launched awareness-raising campaigns, hold seminars and meetings. The law can put an end to child marriage by imposing a criminal penalty for forcing children into marriage.”

“The number of child marriages ending in divorce reached 62”

Manbij Women’s House director İman El-Hamso told us that the number of children, who were forced into child marriage in Manbij and its countryside was 20 and the number of child marriages ending in divorce reached 62 in 2022. “Many divorce petitions were filed as a result of the intervention of the parents and due to the financial situation. We prevented the marriages of some children. We need new law to prevent child marriage, polygamy and reduce divorce rates. In North and Syria, we have a women’s law and we demand the Women's Justice Council to implement this law.”

“Early marriage is like throwing yourself into a deep well”

19-year-old H.M. is one of the victims of early marriage in Manbij. She was forced into marriage when she was 16. “I was subjected to violence both by my husband and his family. I was beaten and hospitalized many times. My husband treated me like a slave. I did not know what to do because I was very young. I could not tell my family what I faced. Early marriage is like throwing yourself into a deep well. I wanted to kill myself many times. This marriage ruined my life; I had to leave the school and had no future. I got divorced but everyone calls me ‘divorced woman' and this makes me very sad, but I have never regretted my decision to divorce. Do not marry your children at a young age for any reason. I demand the implementation of the law banning early marriage.”

“We will keep struggling”

Mentioning the reasons why the women's law is not implemented, Manbij Social Justice Council Co-Chair Mufîde El-Hesen said that women's law is not implemented in Manbij and North and East Syria due to the customs and traditions. “Early marriage is unacceptable. As the Court of Justice, we are trying to put an end to this phenomenon by raising awareness. Since the liberation of Manbij, we have launched many awareness-raising campaigns to end this phenomenon. We will keep struggling to enforce laws banning this phenomenon.”