Deniz Yeşilyurt/JINHA

MANBIJ- Manbij women stated that they would never forget the atrocity of ISIS and they said they wanted to organize like the YPJ (Women's Defense Units) and protected their country.

Operation to Liberate Manbij begun on June 1, continued under the name of "Operation Martyr and Commander Faysal Abu Leyla". Manbij was liberated on 73rd day of resistance. Participation of young women in Manbij Military Council has been increasing each day. Xaliya from Manbij Military Council reported that 150 women have joined the council.

Women, who have joined Manbij Military Council fighters, explained us why they joined the fighters. One of these women, Reyhan said that she joined the Manbij Military Council fighters following the liberation of Manbij, "Before, we maintained our life as normal. Then, our life turned to hell when ISIS gangs occupied the city. ISIS beheaded and tortured women. They forced women to wear black. They punished women, who didn't wear burqa. We will never forget what they did to women. They are immoral. That's why we want to fight against them. We want to organize and protect our country like the YPJ."

One of the Manbij women Arya Azad stated that Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen and other people had lived together before ISIS occupied the city. Arya said, "We went to celebrations together. We wore colorful clothes. Bans began to be imposed when ISIS came to the city. They forced women to wear black buqas. Women couldn't go out anymore. Really, I don't know how I can say; ISIS is a dirty gang group. We lived under their atrocity for three years. Now, we are with Manbij Military Council fighters, life is more beautiful like that. We want to stay here and organize ourselves. I feel born again and I am very happy now."

(mg/gd)