Syrian woman shares account of PKK/YPG terror group’s detention and rape

A Syrian woman who survived detention and sexual violence at the hands of PKK/YPG militants in 2017 is calling for global action to remove the group from Syria.

The 51-year-old, identified as M.M. for security reasons, shared her harrowing account with Anadolu Agency, detailing the abuse she endured while trying to flee war-torn Aleppo with her children.

Having lost her husband and eldest son in the early years of the Syrian civil war, M.M. was left to care for her three remaining children. In 2017, she and her children boarded a bus to Türkiye, hoping to escape the violence, but their journey was intercepted at a checkpoint in Afrin, then under PKK/YPG control.

M.M. was detained for 15 days in a house alongside other civilians, where she was subjected to physical and sexual violence.

“During those 15 days, I was utterly devastated. After leaving that place, I was broken in every sense,” she said.

The abuse, she recounted, came not only from male members of the group but also from female operatives.

“The female terrorists treated us not like humans but like animals. They tortured us, kicked us and slammed us against walls,” M.M. said.

Following her release, M.M. sought refuge in Manbij, where her relatives supported her recovery. She eventually made her way to Türkiye, where she expressed deep gratitude for her safety.

“The first thing I did when I entered Türkiye was prostrate in gratitude and kiss the ground. I thank God for surviving,” she said.

Plea for global action against PKK/YPG

M.M. now urges the international community to take decisive action against the PKK/YPG, accusing the group of committing widespread human rights violations in Syria.

“I appeal to the entire world and particularly European countries: I want everyone affiliated with this terrorist organization within Syria, anyone carrying weapons for them, to leave,” she said.

She accused the group of raping girls as young as 13, desecrating the dead, and severely restricting the freedoms of civilians.

“We demand the removal of the PKK/YPG from Syria. We appeal to everyone to ensure these individuals are expelled and sent back to where they belong,” she added.

The PKK, recognized as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union, has waged a decades-long campaign that has claimed more than 40,000 lives.

The PKK/YPG, its Syrian affiliate, has taken advantage of the instability following the Assad regime’s retreat from northern Syria, attempting to establish a “terrorist corridor” along the Turkish border.

Türkiye and its allies continue efforts to counter this threat, aiming to protect border regions and civilians from the PKK/YPG’s influence.

M.M.’s testimony underscores the lasting trauma inflicted by the group’s actions and the urgency of international efforts to address the situation.