ZEYNEB XELÎF

Deir ez-Zor- Women living in the rural areas of the eastern Deir ez-Zor have suffered from many challenges due to the patriarchal mentality. The control of ISIS in the region caused women to feel more of this mentality. After the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) liberated the region from ISIS, the Zenûbiya Women's Community was founded in the city of Hajin on October 11, 2019, in order to empower women’s participation in politics, economy, and social life.

The community has many committees

Saba Dali, one of the board members of the Zenûbiya Women's Community, says the community has been carrying out activities to increase women’s participation in all spheres of life. Stating that the community has solved the problems faced by women, Saba Dali said that the community has been working to remove the obstacles to the freedom of women. Talking about the committees of the community, she pointed out that the Education Committee has developed educational programs to raise the awareness of the public.

Women’s rights are essential

Giving information about the activities of the Conciliation Committee, Saba Dali said that the committee has solved marital problems and supported women to achieve their rights. Stating that the community receives five or six applications every day, Saba Dalî said, “Most applications are about marital problems and domestic problems. The rate of divorces has been increasing due to child marriages. The women and girls, who were forced into marriage when the city was under the control of ISIS, seek divorce.”

Rîm Lahmûd is one of the women applied to the community. “I want to thank the community for supporting me. When the city was under the control of ISIS, I filed a divorce case but the members of ISIS told me to stay at home and not go out. The mentality of ISIS increased the rate of harassment and rape,” she told NuJINHA.

Women shouldn’t remain silent against violence

Rîm Lahmûd applied to the community after Deir ez-Zor was liberated from ISIS and the Zenûbiya Women's Community was founded in the city. “I applied to the Zenûbiya Women's Community and the members of the community listened to me and supported me. I applied to the community because I was subjected to domestic violence every day,” she said. Talking about how her relatives remained silent against the violence faced by her, Rîm Lahmûd said that women shouldn’t remain silent against violence and that they should seek their rights.