The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

SOHR exclusive | Old woman from Al-Raqqah becomes a carer for widows of ISIS members

As many male ISIS fighters of Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities were killed during battles which led to eliminating ISIS as a controlling power in Syria, hundreds of women have become widows. Al-Raqqah city has the largest share of widows of ISIS members, as the city had been the most major stronghold of ISIS members and capital of the “Caliphate State” in Syria, where ISIS had recruited many young men. Currently, many widows are struggling disastrous living conditions in Al-Raqqah city.

 

SOHR has interviewed a 65-year-old woman known by her initials as A. A. from a village in the southern countryside of Al-Raqqah, four of whose sons were recruited by ISIS. Also, three of her daughters had married ISIS members, before her daughters’ spouses and three of her sons were killed and a fourth son was detained. Now, the old woman is caring for seven widows.

 

Speaking to SOHR, the woman said, “I gave birth to six sons and five daughters. My deceased husband and I managed to raise our children until they graduated from the faculties of engineering and arts, Arabic and English sections. During the rule of ISIS in Al-Raqqah city, an ISIS Emir (top commander) wooed my eldest son and persuaded him to pledge allegiance to ISIS, before three others of my sons did the same. The eldest son joined the ‘farming sector,’ the second joined ‘Dawa Bureau,’ the third joined ‘judiciary’ and the fourth joined ‘Al-Wali Bureau.’ In this period, ISIS, through ‘Al-Ashayer Bureau’ and ‘Dawa Bureau,’ worked on paying visits to rural areas and neighbourhoods in Al-Raqqah city, after tribal elders in Al-Raqqah had sworn allegiance to the organisation. Meanwhile, the extreme poverty and acute need of money were the major factors spurring young people and minors to join ISIS.”

 

“I pleaded with my sons several times to leave the organisation and return to their normal life, especially since they were university graduates, but to no avail. The proposal of my nephew, who had pledged allegiance to the organisation, to my daughter made things even worse, as my sons accepted to marry off their sister to their cousin according to traditions. I could not express my opinion or take a firm decision, as I am an ill and old widow and there was nobody deterring my sons them from their practices. My second daughter later married her brother’s friend who was a Saudi official in ‘Al-Hisba.’ Also, the third daughter married a Jordanian ISIS member. The fourth daughter was the only one of my daughters who did not marry an ISIS member, as she married her cousin.”

 

“In 2015, my first son was killed in a raid on Al-Ferdaws area in Al-Raqqah. While my second son was killed in another raid on Al-Kahrbaa area in the summer of 2015. The third son was killed during battles in Ain Issa area in 2016. The fourth son was arrested and now detained in Ghuwayran prison in Al-Hasakah. Accordingly, I have become responsible for the three widows of my deceased sons and the wife of my detained son.”

 

“The husbands of my first three daughters were killed in Al-Raqqah battles in 2016 and 2017, while the husband of my fourth daughter was killed by a landmine explosion while we were displacing to the northern countryside of Al-Raqqah.”

 

“I am proud, and I refuse to ask anybody for help, especially since the sufferings of widows of ISIS members and women of ISIS families are emotive stories used widely by all programs of organisations and media outlets. We are a part of a tribal society which never accepts charity. Now, I work with my remaining son and my grandchildren on the farmland which I inherited from my husband.”