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Swedish article in 'MetroXpress'. Translated to English;
Kurdish women at the frontline
''Women have to take back their rights by themselves in Middle East''
In northern Syria near the Turkish border a group of young women train to defend themselves against radical Islamist groups. Others are already fighting at the frontline. The women are struggling simultaneously to take their place in a more equal society when the war is over.
- We women should not hold ourselves back, says Zilan, one of the female militia soldiers of the pre-dominantly Kurdish group called People's Protection Units. She fights on the front lines in northern Syria. In a training camp outside Qamishli a new group of women are training to defend themselves with arms.
In what formerly was a driving school outside town Qamishli, a military training camp has been established. From the age of 17, women can enroll to undergo 15-day training program.
Before they come to the camp they are usually educating themselves in various language and musical courses. Now they recieve education in armed conflicts and war tactics.
Once the training is over, they will be assigned a personal weapon and return to their home in Qamishli or the surrounding villages. The idea is that they will form a sort of home guard if the opponent manages to break through the front line.
The instructor, Berfin, explains why it is important that not only men train to go to war:
- Women themselves must take their rights in the Middle East. We want an equal society.
It is generally required that you are at least 20 years of age to serve in the Women's Defence Units (YPJ). Exceptions are made, but the younger ones are then placed anywhere on military bases further back and not directly on the front line.
- We are at war, but we just only call in the younger ones if we really need them, says Berfin.
In the front line outside the town of al-Jawadiya Kurdish soldiers are scattered in combat positions. In the nearly horizon one can spot what appears to be the silos where al-Nusra-front is located.
The general Sozdar from Women's Defense Units (YPJ) explains the military situation; The YPG/YPJ have recently recaptured several villages in the area, but Islamist groups are far from defeated.
Of particular concern is that the Islamist groups have greater access to modern weapons as they smuggle them through Turkey and Iraq.
Two days earlier, the al-Nusra-front made a nocturnal attack on the Kurdish position. Their troops were advancing behind an armored vehicle, but retreated again after Kurds retiliated with anti-tank weaponry.
Women in YPJ greet with a firm handshake and show a strong assertiveness. Meanwhile, it seems that the men have become slightly moderate when women took place. Unlike in many other armed groups around the world, it seems that there is very little self-assertion.
The Kurdish political parties can all be counted as modernist in its image, but the Kurdish society is still largely conservative and male-dominated. One of those who want to change the gender roles are Zilan, 20. She comes from al-Jawadiya and joined YPJ four months ago.
- We women should not hold ourselves back, says Zilan. We will stay here on the frontline.
Kurdish women at the frontline
''Women have to take back their rights by themselves in Middle East''
In northern Syria near the Turkish border a group of young women train to defend themselves against radical Islamist groups. Others are already fighting at the frontline. The women are struggling simultaneously to take their place in a more equal society when the war is over.
- We women should not hold ourselves back, says Zilan, one of the female militia soldiers of the pre-dominantly Kurdish group called People's Protection Units. She fights on the front lines in northern Syria. In a training camp outside Qamishli a new group of women are training to defend themselves with arms.
In what formerly was a driving school outside town Qamishli, a military training camp has been established. From the age of 17, women can enroll to undergo 15-day training program.
Before they come to the camp they are usually educating themselves in various language and musical courses. Now they recieve education in armed conflicts and war tactics.
Once the training is over, they will be assigned a personal weapon and return to their home in Qamishli or the surrounding villages. The idea is that they will form a sort of home guard if the opponent manages to break through the front line.
The instructor, Berfin, explains why it is important that not only men train to go to war:
- Women themselves must take their rights in the Middle East. We want an equal society.
It is generally required that you are at least 20 years of age to serve in the Women's Defence Units (YPJ). Exceptions are made, but the younger ones are then placed anywhere on military bases further back and not directly on the front line.
- We are at war, but we just only call in the younger ones if we really need them, says Berfin.
In the front line outside the town of al-Jawadiya Kurdish soldiers are scattered in combat positions. In the nearly horizon one can spot what appears to be the silos where al-Nusra-front is located.
The general Sozdar from Women's Defense Units (YPJ) explains the military situation; The YPG/YPJ have recently recaptured several villages in the area, but Islamist groups are far from defeated.
Of particular concern is that the Islamist groups have greater access to modern weapons as they smuggle them through Turkey and Iraq.
Two days earlier, the al-Nusra-front made a nocturnal attack on the Kurdish position. Their troops were advancing behind an armored vehicle, but retreated again after Kurds retiliated with anti-tank weaponry.
Women in YPJ greet with a firm handshake and show a strong assertiveness. Meanwhile, it seems that the men have become slightly moderate when women took place. Unlike in many other armed groups around the world, it seems that there is very little self-assertion.
The Kurdish political parties can all be counted as modernist in its image, but the Kurdish society is still largely conservative and male-dominated. One of those who want to change the gender roles are Zilan, 20. She comes from al-Jawadiya and joined YPJ four months ago.
- We women should not hold ourselves back, says Zilan. We will stay here on the frontline.
