Syrian Women’s Council member Muna Yusuf has recounted the tale of her family’s struggle against displacement, first by Israel and then by Turkey, during an interview with ANF on Friday. Born in Ras al-Ayn (Serêkaniyê) to Palestinian parents originally from Gaza, Yusuf’s story encapsulates the enduring challenges faced by many in the Middle East.
Her family’s ordeal began with the Nakba (lit.: Catastrophe) of 1948, the violent displacement of Palestinians from their homes during the establishment of Israel. “My parents were part of a large family, the Semur family, living in Shati camp in Gaza. They had a traditional marriage in 1948, a time when young people were often married off young,” Yusuf said. The Nakba resulted in her father being unable to return to Gaza while studying medicine in Cairo, and in scattering his family across various countries.
“The Nakba of 1948 meant my father couldn’t return to Gaza. He didn’t know where his family had gone; his parents and siblings had been dispersed. Some of his brothers later ended up in Dubai and Saudi Arabia,” Yusuf recounted. This displacement continued after the family moved to Syria in 1956 due to her father’s subsequent work on ‘state farms’ – farms owned by the state and leased out for specific periods.
The lack of Syrian citizenship compounded their struggles, making employment and annual renewal of residence permits challenging. “Although he was an agricultural engineer, my father still faced many challenges, from not being a Syrian citizen,” Yusuf disclosed.
Reflecting on her own experiences, she noted, “Those times were not like today. The means of communication was by cassette. To find out about the situation in Gaza, people would record their voices on cassettes and send them by any means available. I can say that my childhood was spent listening to stories about home, in Gaza.”
Yusuf’s journey of empowerment began with the Kurdish-led Rojava Revolution in northern Syria. “I used to be introverted and shy, hesitant to express myself. However, taking part in the Rojava Revolution, I discovered my strength and learned to assert myself,” she proudly stated. Today, she is actively involved in organising and empowering women across Syria and the Middle East.
Turkey’s military operations in northern Syria significantly impacted Yusuf’s life, particularly Operation ‘Peace Spring’ initiated on 9 October 2019. “As a living witness to the Syrian crisis that began in 2011, the conflicts in Serêkaniyê in 2013, and the occupation of Serêkaniyê by the Turkish state in 2019, it felt as if the experiences of my parents in Gaza were revived in my eyes, in my soul. Serêkaniyê was invaded…” she recalled. These operations led to occupation, human rights violations and further displacement, perpetuating a cycle of adversity for Yusuf and her community.
