“ Maha”.. A lot of jails in our lives.. the worst is the society one

Story No.1
#Survivers#or#not#yet
From: Sh. A
Editing: Lana Haj Hasan
Al Raqqa

Maha sits in her simple house, and next to her two young daughters, she looks sadly at the situation of the dreamy girl who was a university student at the Faculty of Education. The curse of ISIS didn’t live anybody, says “Maha”, the sons of the city of Al Rasheed known for its culture and its effects lived the worst days during the time of ISIS who turned their lives hell.
“Maha.J” A lady from Raqqa .. She was a student at the Faculty of Education in the third year in the period when ISIS entered the city of Raqqa. As a result of their closure of the city and the prevention of the movement of girls without a mahram, Maha left study. Her only brother cannot leave the city, he is the family’s breadwinner, as a result of the death of her father.

She starts the story by saying:
In the neighborhood I used to live in, there was a house inhabited by a Turkish ISIS member. We knew that late when the cars of al-Hasbah began to park in front of his house. I sometimes went out to the balcony of the house when I did the cleaning wearing my veil, but without Niqab, then it did not cause me any problems.
After that, he proposed to engage me from my family, who refused because he was joint to the organization, next began to watch me and when I went out to the balcony without Niqab, he did a call to Al Hasbah. A car arrived full of ISIS women and arrested me. I was imprisoned for a full day while my brother came and paid the fine and took me out.
The prison process I was subjected to even make me locked up inside the house. I was not allowed to leave the house. Even the balcony of the house was forbidden.
Fear was in control of my brother because ISIS were causing you, from silly things, to arrest or a penalty that could kill you.

The Great Prison (Society)
The arrest experience embarrassed me and my family in term of society and unbearable pressure. My neighbors were always whispering about the experience of my arrest and chanting, “Al Hasbah took her because she was not veiled.” Neighbors also started their minds meet with a sense of ISIS.
My brother was under great pressure as a result of my arrest, which also reflected on me and my daily life.
He told one of his friends about his circumstances he is living, and his friend suggested marrying me. At the beginning I refused because the young man was not educated and I was a student at the Faculty of Education, ISIS entry to Raqqa was what prevented me from pursuing my studies.

I have been forced to marry, and now I have two daughters from a husband I have never wanted but have been imposed on me to cover what is called ‘my arrest by ISIS scandal. My husband proposed to engage me because he knew the good ethics and reputation of our family.
Today I try to preserve my family and raise my daughters and I will strive to get a decent education that will help them cope with the harshness of life.