A female fighter known as the Kurdish Angelina Jolie has reportedly been killed during a battle with ISIS.
Asia Ramazan Antar, who gained her nickname on social media due to her alleged resemblance to the Hollywood star, was killed near Minbic, a town on the Syrian-Turkey border recently liberated from ISIS control.
The Facebook page for We Want Freedom For Kurdistan announced the 22-year-old’s death on 31 August. It said she was “martyred in battle against Daesh (ISIS) near Minbic town.”
Reaction to her death has seen commenters describe Antar as a hero and a martyr.
J Gadi Peller Merino wrote: “God bless her memory. May her memory remain a source of heroism to the Kurdish people for generations to come.”
“Heartbroken to read this, what an inspiration this woman was,” added Dee Morrison.
Jan Robinson said: “RIP Asia. Your battle against Daesh is a symbol to all women around the world.”
Iran Front Page writes Antar was born in Qamishli, a city in north-eastern Syria on the border with Turkey and was recruited into all-female Kurdish military organisation the Women’s Protection Units in 2014, taking part in several campaigns against ISIS.
The organisation, known by the acronym YPJ, constitutes the all-female brigade of the YPG, which is the armed forces of the Syrian region of Kurdistan, according to The Kurdish Project.
The group’s website claims:
“The YPJ have been instrumental in the battle to take back control of Kobani from ISIS. These women fighters know that, if captured, they will be raped and killed; therefore they fight knowing that they must succeed in battle or become a suicide warrior to avoid being captured. The YPJ is also thought to be feared by ISIS, who believes that if a female kills them in battle, it will be a disgrace and dishonour, and will prohibit them from entering paradise.”