Newsha Tavakolian: The Women Taking the Battle to ISIS
1. Cicek was killed at the age of 17 in Kobane. The only belonging of hers that could be brought back to her family was this scarf. Her body is still in Kobane and cannot be returned to her hometown to be buried there.
2 SYRIA. Derek. Rojava. Cicek’s picture attached to the branch of an artificial tree with fake blossoms, at her brother’s house in Derek.
3 SYRIA. Qamishlou. Rojava. People walking past billboard images of martyrs who died while fighting ISIS: “with you we live on and life continues”
4. SYRIA. Serikani. Rojava. Saria Zilan, 18, from Amuda.
“It’s been one year and four months since I joined YPJ. When I saw Martyr Deli on TV after ISIS beheaded her, I went to her burial ceremony the next day in Amuda. I saw Deli’s mother sobbing madly. Right there I swore to myself to avenge her death. I joined YPJ the day after.
5. SYRIA. Amuda. Rojava. YPJ soldiers at the checkpoint, where identity of the passengers is monitored, as a precautionary measure to prevent any infilteration by ISIS members.
6. SYRIA. Serikani. Rojava. YPJ members sitting in an armed vehicle in Serikani.
7. SYRIA. Qamishlou. Rojava. A wedding dress placed outside a bridal shop in a town near Qamishlou. YPG graffiti can be seen on the walls of adjacent buildings.
YPJ and YPG members are neither allowed to marry nor can they have sexual relationships. Their ideology suggests that they are already married to their country and beliefs. Ocalan believes that the source of capitalism is the foundation of family.
