JINHA

DÎLOK - Halise Ali had to migrate from Syria to Antep due to ongoing war in Syria. She was forced to marriage by her family. Her husband married second time four months later their marriage. Halise didn't accept that and she began to live with her mother in law. "We understand each other because we have experienced the same." said Halise.

Thousands of citizens had to migrate from Syria to North Kurdistan and Turkey due to ongoing civil war in Syria. As Syrian people have faced many difficulties such as education and health rights, their struggle for life has become more difficult each day. Girls and young women, who have stayed in Hatay, Maraş and Antep, have been forced to marry as second wife. 29-year-old Halise Ali is one of them.

Halise was forced to marry after she migrated to Turkey. Halise stated that, "I was forced to marry to a married man nine months ago. My husband told me he wanted to marry with another Syrian woman just 3-4 months after our marriage. I didn't think he would do that. He did what he had told me and he married again. I returned to my sister home. Then, mother and sister of my husband came and took me back. When we returned to home, my husband told me "You and my new wife cannot live together." Then, we separated our houses. I have lived with my husband's mother. I am feeling better with her support. My family returned to Syrian but I didn't go with them. My husband's mother had difficulties like me. So, we cannot leave each other."

72 year-old Ayşe Yakut, who opened her door to Halise when her husband married second time, had forced to marry a man when she was 19 years old. Ayşe told us the day she married. "I remember the day like today. I returned from countryside to home and I learned that my family had given me to a man, who I didn't know. They took me a village; we stayed in a home in the village. There was a nonsanee boy in the home where I stayed. A discussion began between the people in the home, that time I understood that I was married the mad boy."

Ayşe stated that she returned to her family home many times, but her brother and father sent her back each time. She said she was affronted for years. Ayşe said, "I and my husband went to a field to another. We mattocked, collected the stones in the fields, picked cottons. I worked under the sun for hours. My husband didn't know going shopping. When he was angry, he didn't eat anything for four days. I've paid a very heavy price for years of my family. I cannot sacrifice my daughter in law to this fault. Her family is in Syria now. I'll protect her."

(pz/mg/gd)