MOSUL, Iraq – Um Zaynab as she calls herself is driving a car in east Mosul after ISIS was defeated in the eastren half of the city earlier in the year.
She is one of those women from Mosul who have dispelled ISIS fears from her mind, despite the fact that the extrimist group is fighting against the Iraqi forces on the other side of the Tigris river that bisects the city.
"Life is normal. We are driving to the market and school in a normal way," Um Zaynab told Rudaw inside her car as she was taking her sister to work, "I take my sister to school, and bring back my children[from school]. We have no fears now."
Before ISIS, driving for women was normal in Mosul, just like any other Iraqi city.
ISIS banned women from driving after it controlled Mosul in 2014, imposing harsh rules on the people, in particular women.
Iraqi forces liberated the eastern half in late January. Women can now be seen in public place–Without Niqab if so they wish.
Asma Hassan, a young woman who was shopping in a market with her son said that the ISIS militants restricted the movements of women in everyway.
"Previously, we couldn’t go to the market," Hassan said, "They would come to us investigating us over even wearing socks and gloves. This was their job. It is very good nowadays. We can get around as we wish."
