The battle against ISIS rages on in the Middle East and one fighting group has burst into
the
spotlight: the YPJ, an all female fighting group in Syria.
Their story has been highlighted in news
articles and on social media, telling tales of their heroics and their sacrifices.
So, who exactly
are these women?
The Women’s Protection Unit, also known as the YPJ, is an all-female volunteer contingent
of Kurdistan’s army.
They are over 7,000 strong, and make up 35% of all the Kurdish troops in
Syria.
They formed in 2012 to help fight against Syria’s government, the al-Qaeda-affiliated
al- Nusra Front, and ISIS.
Their leader is Narin Afrini, who also goes by Maysa
Abdo; neither are her real name.
You may have seen this picture of her
floating around on the internet, which is also not her real picture.
The YPJ is currently engaged in a battle with ISIS over Kobani, a Kurdish city
in Syrian Kurdistan.
Kurdish media is reporting that these women fighters are the vital force in
this battle.
This is the same battle in which a 20-year-old YPJ fighter detonated a suicide bomb
as she ran towards the ISIS line, killing as many as 23 enemy fighters.
Experts believe that if
ISIS can take Kobani it would be a serious blow to the stability of the Turkey-Syria
border, which
would make it easier for ISIS to spread across the region.
The YPJ is also unique because they are made up of Muslim women and there is a general
belief in the West that Muslims treat women as second class citizens.
But this is not the case in
Kurdistan.
Kurdish women play a major role in religion and politics, and have been appointed to
high-level government jobs.
There have also been female Kurdish military heroes dating back
hundreds of years.
In fact, YPJ’s nickname, “The Lions,” comes from the Kurdish saying “a lion
is a lion - be it a female or male.”
5.
This is a saying that ISIS fighters most likely do not agree with.
Many Kurds have
reported that some ISIS fighters are terrified of being killed by a woman.
They think it
will send them to hell.
One YPJ fighter spoke of monitoring ISIS radio calls and hearing
the panic in their voices when discussing the female fighters.
Which is a victory for the
YPJ, who take pride in fighting an enemy that looks down on women.
To find out more about the Kurds, click here now.
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