MSDWomen have participated in the Syrian Revolution since its beginning to rebuild society again. Due to the Syrian regime’s policies, society has been transformed into a consumerist and stagnant state, losing its genuine creative and social vitality.
The Syrian regime eliminated freedom and used it as a control mechanism. This caused society to strain under the oppressive Security Apparatus. Additionally, it led to the worsening of social fragmentation.
Women’s participation in the Revolution played an effective role in increasing its momentum and spreading it everywhere. Their impact continues to be felt even to this day.
However, the Revolution was taken away from the Syrian people, particularly women. Instead of achieving its original goals, the Revolution ended up being controlled by a small group of tyrants and mercenaries. These new leaders are described as having the same oppressive and authoritarian mindset as the Syrian regime they were fighting against. Essentially, it suggests that the Revolution did not achieve the desired change. They used the Revolution at the expense of the Syrian people’s interests. Those mercenaries adopted a male-dominated mindset that disregards women’s rights and their freedom. Instead, they used women to be confined to their masculine ideology.
More than a decade after the Revolution, the opposition continues to insist on its marginalizing and undermining women. It disregards their presence and humanity. Women have been subjected to rape, detention, displacement, and death at sea. This situation has become a routine matter reported by the media, making Syrian women among the most affected groups by the ongoing war.
The protests against all factions and groups affiliated with the opposition and Turkey increase in the occupied areas under their control. At the same time, those factions and groups, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), formerly al-Nusra Front, have once again revealed their anti-woman mindset.
We, as members of the Women’s Association of Parties of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), monitored with great concern and anger the incident of a woman being run over in the city of Binnish, east of Idlib, Syria. The incident led to erupting a protest against the actions of these factions. The protesters demanded the overthrow of the HTS leader and his Security Apparatus, as well as the release of all detainees and abductees in the HTS prisons.
The incident prompted hundreds of residents in Idlib to protest against the authority of HTS. Also, they condemned the incident and called for the HTS leaders to be held accountable.
Such practices reflect the terrorist behavior of HTS and reveal its hostile position towards women. These actions are as like as the Islamic State (ISIS) does against women who refuse to submit to it.
Women in Idlib face similar hardships to those endured by women in Afrin, Ras al-Ain (Sere Kaniye), and Tel Abyad areas that are under Turkish occupation. Wherever Turkish occupation exists in Syria, women face abduction, rape, torture, and even murder.
Therefore, we strongly condemn the abuses women face at the hands of HTS and other mercenary groups affiliated with the Turkish occupation. Consequently, we declare our support for the women in these areas.
We also emphasize that such actions necessitate Syrian women to unify their visions, ranks, and efforts. The aim is to confront the patriarchal mindset, set priorities, and face challenges and dangers. This is essential to achieve a democratic change, end occupations, and prevent the re-establishment and legitimization of tyranny and corruption.
Additionally, we call on human rights organizations, especially those concerned with women’s rights, to monitor the situation of women in areas occupied by Turkey, HTS and other factions. The purpose is to end the violations women are subjected to, which amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. We urge these organizations to work on ensuring the protection for women and guaranteeing their rights according to international human rights covenants and treaties.
Women’s Association of Parties of the SDC
On July 18, 2024
