On Sunday, hundreds of female protesters took to the streets of the Syrian Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli to call for an end to violence against women.
Some banging large drums and others ululating, they marched through the streets, an AFP correspondent said.
“Underage marriage is a crime,” said one sign held up by a protester, on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
Another demonstrator held up the picture of a woman with a swollen eye, her mouth covered with one hand.
“We must take part in this day in large numbers,” said Hanifa Mohammed, 47, wearing a green jumper and a dark-coloured headscarf.
“Women must organise and reach decision-making positions,” she said. “They must determine their future.”
Women of all ages carried the portraits of fighters in the Women’s Protection Units (YPG), the all-female branch of the Syrian Kurdish militia.
Syria’s Kurds pride themselves in promoting equality of the sexes even in combat, as the YPG play a key role in the battle against the Islamic State.
This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
