Sheida Shokrollahnejad: I stayed with that group for about four months. During this time, not only did things not improve, but the psychological pressures increased more and more
Analyzing social and political phenomena in various societies has consistently been a significant challenge in the social sciences and humanities. One noteworthy aspect of these phenomena is the emergence of opposition and armed groups against political and social systems, which can stem from a multitude of factors, including economic, cultural, social, and psychological conditions. In this regard, case studies of individuals who have joined armed and terrorist groups can contribute to a deeper understanding of the factors influencing individual and collective decision-making in this area.
This interview examines the life of a former member of the Komala group who surrendered to Iranian law enforcement forces on April 11, 2022. Ms. Sheida Shokrollahnejad (born in 1996) in the village of Islamabad, Kamiaran, faced particular social and economic challenges. Dropping out of middle school and marrying at the age of 13 indicate the social and cultural pressures that may have influenced her decisions. Furthermore, her online activities and acquaintance with the armed Komala group through Instagram highlight the role of social media in shaping new identities and attracting individuals to armed groups.
Moreover, her connection with a cadre member named Bahman Mardoukhi and the decision to join the Komala Alizadeh faction due to personal disagreements with her husband and enticing propaganda demonstrate the psychological and social influences on young individuals. These developments not only impact her personal life but also the social and political structure of society. Ultimately, her return to Iran after four months of collaboration with the Komala group can be examined as an example of identity and social changes among members of armed groups.
Question: Please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your past. How much did you know about Komala? Why would a young girl from Kamiaran join an armed group?
Sheida Shokrollahnejad: I am Sheida Shokrollahnejad, born in the village of Islamabad in the city of Kamiaran. I faced many difficulties from childhood. My family did not have a good financial situation, and for this reason, I dropped out of school very early. I only studied until the second year of middle school, and then due to family pressure and harsh conditions, I married at the age of thirteen. This early school dropout and marriage, which was essentially child marriage for me, was a consequence of family circumstances, poverty, and my family’s lack of proper understanding of the needs of a teenage girl. I really wasn’t ready for marriage at that age and didn’t have a proper understanding of marital life. I entered a world that I soon realized bore no resemblance to my girlish dreams. From the very beginning, our life was full of tension and arguments, and the disagreements with my husband increased day by day. I felt like I was living in a cage; a cage with no windows to the outside. When I didn’t know anything about married life, naturally, I didn’t have any useful information about Komala, armed groups, or life in the mountains!
Question: What made you think about escaping your ordinary life and joining the Komala group?
Sheida Shokrollahnejad: I lived in that situation for several years, and I had no support from my family, nor any hope of things changing. At that time, I took refuge in the virtual world; a place where I thought I might find someone who would listen to me. On Instagram, I met people who introduced themselves as political activists, women’s rights advocates, and supporters of freedom. One of those people was Bahman Mardoukhi. His behavior was very warm and caring, and he spoke in a way that made me feel like he was the only one who understood me. Bahman regularly talked about freedom, equality, justice, and the oppression of the Iranian government, and he said that women in the Komala group are respected, educated, become independent, and no longer live under male dominance. Gradually, I became convinced that this might be my only way of salvation. Despite all the problems, my husband was not willing to divorce me, and I was on the verge of collapse from psychological pressure. I had no choice but to take refuge in Komala! Their slogans were attractive, and in my married life, I hadn’t even heard an attractive slogan.
Question: How did you leave the country and join Komala?
Sheida Shokrollahnejad: My departure from Iran was illegal and at night. The connections I had made through Bahman Mardoukhi linked me to people who knew the way to cross the border. With fear and terror, I crossed difficult mountainous paths. I really didn’t think for a moment that I would reach my destination alive. The weather was cold, and the route was dangerous and full of mines. But despite all the fears, hoping to reach “freedom,” I continued on my way. When I reached Iraqi Kurdistan, group members took me to one of the Komala Alizadeh faction’s headquarters. That’s where my membership officially began. I thought my freedom had begun, but gradually I realized I had just entered a whirlpool from which I would have to fight just to escape!
Question: What was it like entering the headquarters? Did what you saw match your expectations?
Sheida Shokrollahnejad: Not at all. The realities inside the camp were drastically different from what I had heard in the virtual world. From the very first days, a lot of psychological pressure was put on me. Military training began, heavy mountain trekking, weapons practice, and ideological sessions about the group’s history, armed struggle, and hostility towards the Iranian government. There was no sign of a safe environment for women. Living conditions were also disastrous. Not only women, but everyone had to obey orders without question. We were expected to forget our previous identities. Everything was colored by slogans and propaganda. Instead of helping me break free from the past, I entered a cold, military, and closed environment where there was no sense of support or empathy. They had turned us into robots with no feelings. When I talked about my problems, they would just say, “Don’t be weak,” “You are a fighter now,” “Forget your past life”; but forgetting was not easy. Every night I went to sleep crying, and thoughts of my children and regret for being deceived ate away at me from the inside.
Question: How long did you stay with the group, and what made you decide to leave?
Sheida Shokrollahnejad: I stayed with that group for about four months. During this time, not only did things not improve, but the psychological pressures increased more and more. The only thing that had no value there was human feelings. We were just soldiers for the group’s political goals. During this time, my contact with my family was cut off, and I felt like I was fading away. But an important thing happened; my husband came after me, and we talked a lot. It was there that we resolved many issues between us. At that moment, I felt that I no longer had any reason to stay. I had no hope and no trust. I told the group leaders that I wanted to leave. At first, they opposed it and said that returning was dangerous and I might be arrested or harmed. But I had made my decision. I no longer wanted to live in the hell of Komala.
Question: What happened after you left the group? Was it easy to return to Iran?
Sheida Shokrollahnejad: After settling my affairs, deep in my heart I knew that the only place I should be was with my family, my husband, and my children. I decided to surrender. On April 11, 2022, I returned to Iran and voluntarily surrendered myself to the Iranian border guards. I was very scared and didn’t know what treatment awaited me. But what I saw was different from all my worries. The treatment was completely humane; they treated me with respect, asked only a few questions, and after a short time, they released me. Because I hadn’t really done anything wrong, I was deceived and became a member. I didn’t participate in any operations, and I didn’t believe in the Komala group!
Question: How do you feel now? How do you see your future?
Sheida Shokrollahnejad: Now, only one thing is important to me: real life. Despite all the mistakes I have made, today I want to rebuild from scratch; alongside my family and the children who were alone for a while because of my mistake, I want to truly experience life and freedom. That dark period is over forever. I no longer trust the promises of the virtual world, nor the slogans that smell of violence. I hope no other woman, no other girl, is deceived by these false advertisements. Freedom is not achieved with guns and coercion. Life only makes sense when you can make your own decisions with your own voice, without fear and without deception.
