{"id":13531,"date":"2025-02-05T10:09:58","date_gmt":"2025-02-05T10:09:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mesopotamia.coop\/?p=13531"},"modified":"2025-02-05T10:09:58","modified_gmt":"2025-02-05T10:09:58","slug":"zenobias-legacy-challenges-and-encourages-women-to-actively-participate-in-building-syrias-future-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mesopotamia.coop\/zenobias-legacy-challenges-and-encourages-women-to-actively-participate-in-building-syrias-future-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Zenobia\u2019s legacy challenges and encourages women to actively participate in building Syria\u2019s future\u2019 \u2013 interview"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In an exclusive interview with Medya News, Khoud Al-Issa, spokesperson of the Zenobia Women’s Gathering in North and East Syria, outlines the current attacks against women in Syria and explains why the recent decision of the Syrian interim government to remove Queen Zenobia’s name from the national curriculum must be seen as an attempt to erase the history of Syrian women.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One month after the fall of the Assad regime and the takeover of the government by Hay\u2019at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), Syria is standing at a crossroads. The fall of the Assad regime was celebrated in Syria and all over the world, but doubts remain over whether the new regime will be more progressive, with many pointing to the fact that HTS is a successor to the jihadist Al-Nusra Front, which is known for its crimes and violence against women and minorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decision by the new interim government to remove Queen Zenobia\u2019s name<\/a> from the country\u2019s national curriculum has exacerbated the concerns of many women in Syria, who feel the role and importance of women in the history of Syria will be made invisible and that the violence and oppression against them will continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medya News conducted an exclusive interview with Khoud Al-Issa, spokesperson of the Zenobia Women\u2019s Gathering<\/a>, which is an independent women\u2019s<\/a> organisation working in Raqqa<\/a>, Manbij<\/a> (Minb\u00eec), Tabqa<\/a> (Tebqa), Deir ez-Zor<\/a> (D\u00earazor) and other areas liberated from ISIS in North and East Syria. The organisation is named after Queen Zenobia, the third-century ruler of the Palmyrene Empire, which Al-Issa describes as a \u201cmodel for Syrian women who are able to achieve the impossible and lead their society towards progress and prosperity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Khoud Al-Issa highlighted that in today\u2019s context, Zenobia\u2019s legacy \u201cchallenges stereotypes that try to limit the role of women, and encourages women to claim their rights and actively participate in building Syria\u2019s future.\u201d Outlining the current situation of women in Syria, she explained that women are \u201cgreatly affected by the ongoing wars and conflicts\u201d, as they are exposed to \u201cphysical and sexual violence, forced displacement, loss of loved ones, extreme poverty, and denial of education and healthcare,\u201d while also caring for their families under these difficult circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Zenobia Women\u2019s Gathering has also faced immense challenges since the escalation of the war in Syria. Recently, three of its members\u2014Qamar al-Sud, Aisha Abdul Qader and a woman known only as Iman were killed<\/a> in Turkish-led attacks on the town of Manbij. Karam Ehmed Al-Shehab Al-Hemed was killed in a Turkish drone strike<\/a> targeting a civilian car convoy<\/a> en route to a demonstration at the Tishreen Dam<\/a> [on 10 January, 2025]. Their martyrdom highlights the sacrifices women continue to make in the region, both for their rights and for the preservation of their legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enjoy reading the full interview, originally conducted in Arabic, translated and slightly edited by Medya News:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can you introduce your organisation and its main activities?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are Zenobia Women\u2019s Gathering, an independent women\u2019s organisation working in Raqqa, Manbij, Tabqa, Deir ez-Zor and other areas liberated from ISIS. Our main goal is to empower Syrian women in all aspects of life, whether social, economic or political. We believe that women are the foundation of society and an active element in building the future of Syria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our main activities include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n