Her existence there has drained both her soul and body. Nada, thirty-five, comes from a village in the Latakia countryside on the Syrian coast. Six years ago, she found herself widowed, her late husband having been a former Syrian fighter in the National Defense militia.
Subsequently, she married an Iraqi man affiliated with one of the Iraqi militias and relocated to his homeland with aspirations of building a stable and comfortable life. I crave a life marked by dignity, humanity, and respect. Over recent years, numerous Syrian women have had their lives shattered, forced into the sex trade under duress from husbands, employers, or hosts.
The majority of spouses in cases under scrutiny in this investigation have ties to Iraqi militias operating in Syria or have affiliations with them. In the Sayyida Zeinab area, south of Damascus, Nada drew the attention of numerous Iraqi and Iranian fighters exchanging interests during visits and trade.
The region hosts various offices offering services to visitors, including accommodation options like hotels and rented apartments. However, these advertised services often conceal more lucrative, undisclosed activities, such as permanent or temporary marriage services. Hajj Khadr, according to Nada, served as a fighter in the Al-Nujaba Movement and stood three years senior to her.
Their acquaintance began fortuitously near the shrine, where he initiated courtship with both her and her child. A connection blossomed, and he swiftly proposed marriage, urging her to relocate to Iraq. He pledged to cater to her every need and regality in one of his two houses. With ownership of lucrative lands and commercial interests, he boasted a substantial income. Under the influence of the lavish gifts he showered upon her and her family, she found herself believing his promises. In the spring of , Al-Hajj proposed to her, presenting a dowry for both her and them.
