The Turkish military launched an airstrike on a civilian vehicle in the eastern outskirts of Kobane on Thursday night, severely injuring Halime Osman and her husband, Eli Mustafa Osman.
Halime, a mother of five, is a spokeswoman for ‘Zara’, a women’s rights organisation dedicated to combating violence through education.
The couple were returning home from visiting a relative when they were struck. “We are civilised people. Turkey targets everyone indiscriminately, without regard,” Halime said. “What does Turkey want from us? Are we on their land? No. Have we attacked them? No. We are on our own land, in our own homes, with our children. What do you want from us?” she asked, adding that Turkey “consistently targets women. It continues to attack women.”
Eli Mustafa Osman, responding to the ongoing Turkish attacks, said: “We will never submit to someone like [Turkish President] Erdoğan. Erdoğan targets civilians. We will not abandon our lands; he should be well aware of this.”
Meghan Bodette, an expert on the region, highlighted that Turkey’s pattern of targeting women activists is alarmingly systematic. “Turkey’s attacks specifically target women’s movements, undermining their leadership and instilling fear among women,” Bodette explained.
Furthermore, Bodette discussed the broader implications of these actions, noting, “That’s a threat not only to these women, their families and their communities but also to the entire concept of what democracy is, what sovereignty and territorial integrity are.”