Sabiha Shaban is an Albanian from Shehba region of Northern Syria. She grew up with her grandfather's stories about the legendary resistance against the Ottoman attacks. Later, she married Hasan Xidro, who is considered one of the first Kurdish patriots in Shehba. From this marriage, she had four sons, who joined the Jabhat Al-Akrad in its founding phase in 2013. The family escaped attacks by Turkish militia in 2013 to Afrin, where she has been living for five years now. A son of hers was captured by Turkish militia and handed over to the ISIS. Sabiha Shaban is now joining forces with her children to resist the Turkish military invasion of Afrin.

FOUNDATION OF JABHAT AL-AKRAD

The first unit of Jabhat Al-Akrad was founded on the Kurdish initiative in January 2013 in Tilsehir in Azaz and quickly grew by the participation of various peoples of the region. The Turkish state disliked the rapid development of Jabhat Al-Akrad in places like Azaz, Bab, Rai, Manbij, Aleppo and Raqqa. In order to combat Jabhat Al-Akrad, a joint coordination office was set up. Twenty-one jihadists, including ISIS and al-Nusra members, issued a joint statement against Jabhat Al-Akrad and the Kurds.

Among the first targets were the villages of Til Hasil and Til Aran, located between Arab villages. The attacks started on July 27th. From the mosques loudspeakers announcements were made, in which attacks on Kurds and the abduction of women were declared religiously justified. On August 1, 70 people were brutally murdered in Til Eran and Til Hasil, including many women and children. Hundreds of people were abducted. The attacks were not limited to Til Eran and Til Hasil, but expanded over time to all areas where Jabhat Al-Akrad was organized. After the massacres in Til Eran and Til Hasil, the Jabhat Al-Akrad command announced their retreat to protect the civilian population. The retreat took place first to Aleppo and from there to villages in Afrin.

FLIGHT TO AFRIN

Sabiha Shaban was living with her family in Tilsehir at that time. Since their sons had joined Jabhat Al-Akrad, the family was one of the first to be attacked. Sabiha Shaban tells how they saved themselves: "They came to the village, but not like humans, rather like monsters. First, they went to the mosque and made a loudspeaker announcement saying that they would cut the throat of men and torture their families. We could hardly save ourselves. We had to leave all our belongings behind. There was no car to drive us. Finally, we pretended to be going a wedding, and a driver agreed. Had he known that we would escape, he would never have driven us. We cried on the way. The heritage of our ancestors, our fields, houses and all our property was left behind."

The family went first to Sheikh Maqsoud in Aleppo and a week later to Afrin. Two months later, Sabiha's son Ahmet Xidro, along with four friends on the way to Afrin, was ambushed by Ahrar-u Sham, who sold the five prisoners to Al-Nusra who then handed them over to the ISIS. Since then, Sabiha Shaban has not heard from her son. She does not give up on the hope to find him again.

"WE WILL FIGHT TO THE LAST DROP OF BLOOD"

Today, Sabiha Shaban is resisting the Turkish military invasion of Afrin that is supported by 46 different militias. Her three sons are fighters of Jabhat Al-Akrad at the front. Sabiha says the Turkish state and its militia tried the same thing in Afrin as they did in Shehba: "We fight to defend ourselves. And what are these gangs fighting for? To conquer our soils. If necessary, young and old will all take up arms against it. We will fight to the last drop of blood."

Erdoğan is following the Ottomans, she says, and continues: "The Ottomans had targeted and attacked our country as well. My grandfather is said to have been very brave and combative. He fought the Ottomans for eleven years and successfully beat them back. He was a good person. We are also fighters, we follow his way. He has not left his country to anyone and we will not do it either. God willing, we will hunt Erdoğan out of our land. "