The Zenobiya Women’s Union has been the umbrella organization of Arab women in North and East Syria since 2021 and is therefore primarily represented in the regions of Raqqa, Tabqa, Minbic and Deir ez-Zor.
Situation of women in the Arab regions
Women had been able to live ‘limited freedoms’ in the Arab regions in recent decades, going to school and in some cases attending university. Nevertheless, they complained that the role assigned to women in society was so subordinate and lacking in influence that they rarely felt truly self-determined. Then in 2014 came the reign of terror by the Islamist group Daesh, the so-called ‘Islamic State’, under which women lost virtually all their rights overnight.
Houda Isa Ali, spokesperson for Zenobiya, talks about the history of the region and its impact on the situation of women: “Women had high hopes for the Syrian revolution. They hoped that they would get their rights, their freedom and be able to get involved in many areas. All these hopes were dashed when the [Syrian] revolution strayed from its path. Then the IS occupation began. That was an even heavier blow for the women. They were slaughtered, sold in markets, locked in houses, forced to wear black sheets, raped and enslaved on the orders of IS.”
The foundation of Zenobiya
After the liberation of Raqqa and Deir-ez-Zor at the end of 2017 by the women’s and people’s defence units YPJ, YPG and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), some women began to come together and gradually organize themselves against the prevailing mentality. IS had not only left behind deep wounds and trauma, but also had an enormous, lasting impact on social coexistence. Although many women tore the niqab from their faces and the black abiya from their bodies to burn them during the liberation of Raqqa, the social and psychological effects could not be shed as easily as a piece of clothing.
Initially, women’s councils were founded in various cities. After several years of work in these councils, in which women discussed with each other, held educational sessions, sought out other women and shared their stories, the decision was finally made to unite under the umbrella of a common organization. The Zenobiya Women’s Union was founded in 2021.
At the official founding ceremony, Maryam Ibrahim, one of Zenobiya’s regional representatives, said: “If this meeting shows one thing, it is that women have become role models and pioneers in society. Today, four years after the liberation of these territories, we can say that this is the beginning of the rebirth of the free woman who organizes herself within the framework of the democratic nation project and works in all institutions and fields”.
Current aims and works: The continuation of the women’s revolution
The aim of Zenobiya today is to organize and educate women in all areas of society and to strengthen them in their struggle for self-determination. Ultimately, the Women’s Union wants to work towards the full implementation of the social contract of the Democratic Self-Government of North and East Syria, which is based on women’s liberation. To achieve this, the women of Zenobiya tirelessly carry out educational activities (including for men), visit families and build shelters for women, and campaign against forced marriage and polygamy. Zenobiya’s work takes place in the following committees: Economy, Education, Press, Ideology, Defense, Fallen Families, Culture and Peace.
Ultimately, Zenobiya, as a women’s self-organization, has its sights set on social change as a whole, in which women play a pioneering role: “Our goal is to strengthen them at all levels and give them a leading role on the path to a political solution in Syria, to realize the hopes and aspirations of Syrian women and to bring lasting peace to Syria”.
