Campaign launched to adopt Kobani name in official documents

Stemming from a sense of social responsibility to preserve Kobani’s historical heritage and defend its name, a group of activists, journalists, intellectuals, and residents of the city launched the campaign two days ago under the slogan: “Kobani is an identity that cannot be erased, and a name that deserves to be recorded in official documents.”

Participants called on official institutions and relevant authorities to respond to the demand and work toward adopting the name Kobani in official and administrative documents, in line with the will of the city’s residents and in order to preserve its historical identity for future generations.

In this context, resident Sheikh Nabi Hami said: “Days ago, we, the residents of Kobani, launched a campaign with the participation of activists, intellectuals, journalists, lawyers, doctors, and workers to defend and protect the name Kobani. It initially began on social media through a hashtag campaign, and we are now preparing to organize a march and sit-in to convey the demands of Kobani’s residents to the concerned authorities.”

Sheikh Nabi added: “We categorically reject the Arabization of the name Kobani and reject any arbitrary measures or decisions imposed on us, as happened under the chauvinistic Baath regime, which pursued policies of Arabization and marginalization against the people of the region. Defending the name Kobani is not merely a matter of naming; it is a defense of history, identity, and the collective memory of a people.”

He continued: “We paid a heavy price for Kobani and sacrificed our martyrs for it. Many of our people are still detained, and we lived through years of injustice, oppression, and arrests. Massacres were committed against us, all in order to protect our existence and the name of our city. Today, the interim government is Arabizing the name of Kobani in its official institutions, where the name ‘Ayn al-Arab’ is written and Kobani is placed in parentheses, as if this is an attempt to appease us or bypass our demands. We completely reject this, because the name Kobani represents our history and identity.”

Sheikh Nabi Hami said: “The name ‘Ayn al-Arab’ was previously imposed on us during the rule of the chauvinistic Baath regime as part of a systematic Arabization policy. Despite this, they failed to erase the name Kobani because it is linked to a deep historical legacy and a firmly rooted popular and cultural memory. Anyone seeking to change the name Kobani must review the history and significance of this city, as it is a land associated with resistance and steadfastness and was home to heroes and figures who left their mark on the region’s history.”

Hami stressed: “Anyone seeking to change the name Kobani must understand that the people of this city are a resilient community spread across the world and will not accept any attempt to undermine their identity. In Kobani, one of the most dangerous terrorist forces in the world was defeated, and the name Kobani became known globally for its symbolism of resistance. Any policy aimed at changing the names of cities, villages, or institutions, or imposing Arabization on them, brings back memories of the practices of the Baath regime.”

He noted that the head of the interim government, Ahmed al-Sharaa, had previously stated that he recognized the rights of the Kurdish people, but that “on the ground there is nothing reflecting what was previously acknowledged,” adding that cultural and linguistic rights, identity, and the achievements made by the Kurdish people in Kobani must not be compromised.

Concluding his remarks, Sheikh Nabi said: “We strongly reject any policy of changing names based on political considerations, and we will continue our peaceful struggle until our legitimate demand of establishing the name Kobani in all official and administrative institutions is achieved. We also reject the practices faced by some Kobani residents at government checkpoints, where they are pressured to identify themselves as being from ‘Ayn al-Arab’ instead of Kobani.”

He added: “We are a people who do not know fear, and we will remain Kobani residents. Our demand is clear: to establish the name Kobani and reject any other imposed designation. Kobani is the city from which the spark of July 19 emerged, and the city that defended the entire world when it confronted ISIS terrorists. It will remain a symbol of resistance and dignity.”

Meanwhile, journalist Rabia Ito said: “We launched a campaign under the slogan ‘Kobani: The Identity’ to raise awareness about the name Ayn al-Arab, which is currently used in the official institutions of the interim government. We, the sons and daughters of Kobani, reject the name Ayn al-Arab and demand to be identified as Kobani. Therefore, it was necessary to launch such a campaign and support the residents of Kobani.”

Rabia added: “The reason behind launching this campaign is that Kobani carries a historical legacy and is a symbol of resistance and struggle, and the world knows it by this name. Recently, the interim government has repeatedly used the name ‘Ayn al-Arab,’ which we view as a continuation of the same authoritarian mentality previously adopted by the Baath regime through Arabization policies targeting Kurdish areas.”

She emphasized that the historical resistance and struggle of Kobani were key factors in consolidating its Kurdish identity and affirming its existence, which prompted the launch of this campaign to preserve the city’s name and historical character as it is known worldwide.

She added: “When we say Kobani is a homeland for the Kurdish people, this does not mean rejecting any other component. Rather, we affirm that the name Kobani has historical roots connected to the Kurdish people, and we seek to preserve it as part of the city’s historical and cultural identity.”

In her concluding remarks, journalist Rabia Ito stressed that the campaign aims to adopt the name Kobani in all official government records and institutions instead of Ayn al-Arab. She said: “To protect our identity, culture, and the name of our city, we must intensify our struggle against policies of erasing our existence.”

She added that the campaign will include a series of media and community activities, along with collecting signatures and organizing awareness events aimed at reinforcing the importance of preserving the name Kobani as part of the city’s collective memory and cultural history.

She expressed confidence that the city, which has previously withstood challenges, will also succeed in preserving its name and identity.

As part of its activities, the campaign is scheduled to organize a mass demonstration followed by a sit-in on July 9. The march will begin at 18:00 from Ashti Roundabout toward the Free Women’s Square in central Kobani, under the slogan: “Kobani is an identity that cannot be erased, and a name that deserves to be recorded in official documents.”

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