We wanted to share something about Zenobia especially in these times. In the days where women are gathering around the world to make the stance that they will not give up what they have achieved.
Zenobia Women’s Gathering was founded in 2021 and is a women’s movement in Raqqa, Tabqa, Manbij, Deir ez-Zor and other areas that were liberated from ISIS.
After the liberation, women’s centres were built up and started their work to solve all social problems that are imprisoning women, such as domestic violence, underage marriage, polygamy, murder, divorce and [lack of] inheritance. The years of ISIS occupation left deep scars in the mentality of society, however even before then women were fighting against the patriarchal mentality. There are thousands of women part of Zenobia, working towards a a free and dignified life.
The organisation is named after the Warrior Queen of the Palmyra Empire. As a spokesperson of Zenobia women’s gathering said: She is a “model for Syrian women who are able to achieve the impossible and lead their society towards progress and prosperity.”
Arab, Circassian, Turkmen and Kurdish women organized together and built unity through their struggle against the mentality of male domination. Zenobia is a coming together of women, helping women gain the strength and self knowledge to become leaders in their society.
They ran academies for women to become strong, economic projects to help women become economically independent, awareness campaigns, health committees, women’s houses and more.
The occupation of the Syrian Transitional Government of Raqqa, Tabqa and the other areas that were liberated from ISIS, is not merely an administrative change, it is a violent attempt to force women back from taking roles within society. It is an attack on the gains women have made.
The statement made by Zenobia in Dec 2025 against the attacks happening to minorities within Syria, they stated that Syria “will not be built by force or exclusion, but through dialogue, justice, and respect for the will of its people, and that women will remain the voice of wisdom and guardians of the country’s unity and peace.”This was true then and it is true more than ever now!
Now, since the taking over of Raqqa and Tabqa by a jihadist government we are unclear of the future of Zenobia, but what we know it that Arab, Kurdish, Assyrian and all the women of the world will continue to work together, for a free and meaningful life.
