Some live in abandoned Iraqi army buildings, which, as one might imagine, are run down and lack any luxuries. Small groups are stationed at various observation posts all along the border of Rabia to keep the area secured, explains Trieb. The YPJ operates in two-week rotations on the front lines. Since the YPJ exists on a volunteer basis, many of the women are also unpaid and even when supporters offer them payment in return for their service, "they will refuse the gift or donate it to the YPJ," Trieb notes. In fact, none of them sign contracts (as with most militaries) and they can leave whenever they choose. They are not at all obligated to stay, says Trieb, and all who join, remain out of loyalty. Nonetheless, the women remain committed to the YPJ and its mission and are dedicated to protecting their people. Although some have pointed out the success of the PKK in stopping ISIS, the tag still stands.įor now, the YPJ has no backing from western nations, relying mainly on their community to provide funding and supplies. State Department, N.A.T.O., and the European Union have all designated the PKK a terrorist group, mainly due to its violent three-decade (1984-2013), struggle for autonomy from the Turkish State (a N.A.T.O. Historically, Trieb explains, the "YPJ has been closed off to being covered by Western media, partly in fear of how they will be portrayed in the West." The YPJ (and YPG) have been closely linked to another Kurdish fighting force known as the Kurdistan Worker's Party or the PKK and the U.S. It is difficult to say exactly why the force is largely unknown to Americans and many western nations, though it may in part be due to the dwindling number of Western media in Syria. Because for them, they've been fighting this war every day for almost three years, so they were shocked to hear that most Americans don't know they exist." It was really hard to have to tell them that. "The truth is," says Trieb, "most of the West hasn't heard of the YPJ. The YPJ soldiers would ask Trieb 'What do they Americans think of us?'. Trieb reveals that the YPJ are also very concerned with America's perception of them, "worrying that think we're terrorists". ![]() Photographed at a YPJ checkpoint-base, on the outskirts of Rabia, Kurdistan, on Aug. As Trieb recalls, "The saying among many Syrian Kurds is that ISIS is more terrified of being killed by women because if they are, they will not go to heaven." To some in the region, they are seen as potentially more of a threat to ISIS than male soldiers. They are also wholly celebrated by their community, which Trieb notes is unexpected in a part of the world where women are often seen as inferior to men. They endure many months and levels of rigorous training in weaponry and tactical maneuvers before they are even allowed to fight. They understand we are strong and that we can do everything they can."Īccording to Trieb, the women are indeed seen as just as strong, disciplined, and committed as their male counterparts. Now they see that we are their equals, and that we have the same abilities, maybe sometimes more than them. Now, the men back home changed their opinions about me and other women. I showed all of them that I can hold a weapon, that I can fight in the clashes, that I can do everything that they thought was impossible for women. But when I joined the YPJ everything changed. When I was at home," she recalled, "all the men just thought that the women are just cleaning the house and not going outside. Sa-el Morad, 20, (pictured below), shared with Trieb that she enlisted in order to prove that, "we can do all the same things that men can do that women can do everything that there's nothing impossible for us. It enforces a constant sense of belonging and support." They address each other as Haval, and when they spoke to me, they would call me 'Haval Erin'. They treat each other (and treated me) with a sense of solidarity and sisterhood. "Their motto is 'Haval' or 'friendship'," explains Trieb, "and is of utmost importance to them. I can't imagine living any other way." This sentiment, says Trieb, is echoed by all members of the YPJ, who live by a code of honesty, morals, and justice. She insists, "I love being a YPJ soldier, I love the other soldiers, we are closer than sisters. They can't protect us from, we have to protect us we defend everyone…no matter what race or religion they are."Īhmed, like many of the YPJ, is fiercely loyal to her fellow-soldiers. She continues, "We need to control the area ourselves without depending on them. "We have to be free from the Syrian government," says YPJ member, Evin Ahmed, 26, (pictured above). ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |