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Four Corners: April 27

Four Corners reports on the women taking up arms against Islamic State.

2015-04-25_0033Next Monday Four Corners features a report by Israeli filmmaker Itai Anghel, on the frontline with the women taking up arms against Islamic State.

Meet the women taking up arms against Islamic State.

“We are ISIS’s nightmare.” Ahin, female Kurdish guerrilla

“They should fear me… What I have and they don’t is a purpose worth fighting for… I’m here to protect my existence.” Zozan, female Kurdish guerrilla

These highly effective female fighters are taking on Islamic State forces in northern Iraq and Syria as part of the Kurdish guerrilla army.

One of their senior leaders is Commander Media and she’s clear about her purpose:

“For people like that even hell is not enough. My role is to make sure they get a one way ticket.”

Commander Media and the story of her soldiers feature in No Free Steps to Heaven, a film that takes you right into the conflict zone as these women take charge during tense fire fights.

Through the camera of Israeli filmmaker Itai Anghel, we meet young women giving up any prospect of a normal life to train and fight in tough conditions.

Sitting fireside at night in the mountains, 20-year-old Zozan says: “I am fighting to live, they are fighting to die.”

Then there’s newly trained Ahin on her way to join two siblings on the frontline. Anghel asks if she is afraid of ISIS. Her reply: “On the contrary they are afraid of us.”

These female guerrillas also engage in psychological warfare. As they go into battle they taunt the ISIS fighters, who believe dying in combat will lead them to heaven and 72 virgins, but not if they are killed by a woman.

Anghel also meets ISIS soldiers captured by the Kurds. They chillingly boast about the pleasure they take in killing their enemies. One claims to have beheaded at least 70 people.

As an Israeli, Anghel went undercover to film these close encounters. A friend of murdered American journalist James Foley, Anghel was well aware of the dangers facing journalists in the region. Using trusted contacts within the Kurdish forces, his journey provides a fascinating insight into the fight against ISIS.

Monday 27th April at 8.30pm on ABC.

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