Two Rojava municipal council women assassinated: reports

23-01-2021
Rudaw
A+ A-
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Two city council officials in northeast Syria’s Hasaka province were abducted and assassinated Friday night. 

Hind Latif al-Khadir was head of the economy committee in the administration of the town of Til Shayir. Sa’da Faysal al-Hermas was co-chair of the town’s people’s council, the Rojava Information Centre reported.  

Khadir and Hermas were kidnapped Friday evening, shot, and killed, according to a statement from the Hasaka provincial council, published by Hawar News Agency. 

“And in a heinous crime that is added to the black record of terrorism, this crime is targeting women in our society, who shed the dust of ISIS from their shoulders, entered the field of work, proved themselves, played their active role in society, and proved their ability to carry weapons and stand by their brother to protect their land and people,” read the statement.

“This crime is also aimed at destabilizing security and stability, and spreading horror among our people,” the council statement added.

Both women had received death threats from the Islamic State (ISIS), according to the UK-based conflict monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Their bodies were found in the town of al-Dashisha, in southern Hasaka province. 

The Rojava Information Centre also reported suspected ISIS involvement in the assassinations. 

Women have risen to prominent public roles under the Kurdish-led administration in northeast Syria. Every council and government office is gender-balanced with male and female co-leaders. Women have also made advancements economically and an all-female armed force gained international recognition in the war against ISIS.  

In 2019, Havrin Khalaf, leader of the Future Syria Party, was executed by Turkish-backed militia groups.  
 

Comments

Rudaw moderates all comments submitted on our website. We welcome comments which are relevant to the article and encourage further discussion about the issues that matter to you. We also welcome constructive criticism about Rudaw.

To be approved for publication, however, your comments must meet our community guidelines.

We will not tolerate the following: profanity, threats, personal attacks, vulgarity, abuse (such as sexism, racism, homophobia or xenophobia), or commercial or personal promotion.

Comments that do not meet our guidelines will be rejected. Comments are not edited – they are either approved or rejected.

Post a comment

Required
Required