Celebrations in NE Syria mark Kurdish Language Day

Coinciding with Kurdish Language Day, which falls on May 15 each year, various activities were organized in different cities and regions across North and East Syria. These events aimed to highlight the importance of the Kurdish language, preserve it, and advocate for its recognition as an official language that represents the identity and culture of the Kurdish people.

Amuda: An artistic and cultural exhibition reflects the richness of Kurdish heritage

In the city of Amuda, in the Jazira Canton, the school administration organized a diverse art exhibition with participation from teachers and students from the city and surrounding countryside. Around 300 works of art created by students and teachers throughout the school year were displayed, including handicrafts, plants grown in schools, and photos of female teachers who were martyred while performing their national duty.

Students and teachers wore traditional Kurdish clothing and distributed awareness flyers about the importance of Kurdish Language Day, which added a vibrant and spirited atmosphere of belonging to the event.

The exhibition opened with a moment of silence in honor of the martyrs, followed by a speech from Arshak Barafi, a member of the Union of Intellectuals in Jazira Canton. He spoke about the early days of Kurdish language education, saying: “At the beginning of the Rojava Revolution, when we opened the Rashid Kurd Center, I wrote a poem about the letters of the Kurdish language to encourage everyone to learn our mother tongue. Today, I recall that poem as I see the outcomes of that effort embodied in the spread of the language since 2011.”

Teacher Media Saado also recited a special poem for the occasion. The event included Kurdish folkloric dance performances by students and teachers, which further engaged the audience. The exhibition is scheduled to continue for three days to allow everyone a chance to visit.

Tal Brak: Emphasis on constitutional recognition of the Kurdish language

In the city of Tal Brak, also in the Jazira Canton, the Schools Administration Committee organized a public celebration at the Culture and Art Center. Dozens of locals, members of civil and military institutions, representatives of political parties, and the Education Body attended.

The event began with a moment of silence, followed by a speech from the co-chair of the committee, Najla Khidr, who said: “One of the greatest achievements of our revolution is the recognition of the right to use the mother tongue for every community. The Kurdish language represents one of the highest values we take pride in.”

Committee member Brivan Maa’u emphasized the importance of continuing the struggle to preserve the Kurdish language, paying tribute to everyone who contributed to this path.

Teacher Aldar Mahmoud stated in his speech: “After years of deliberate denial, we must now make up for the lost time and work to revive our mother tongue and have it officially recognized in the Syrian constitution.”

The event concluded with artistic and cultural performances showcasing the richness of Kurdish identity, along with theatrical presentations by children.

Kobani: A call to make Kurdish an official language

In Kobani, the preparatory committee of the Kurdish Language Institution concluded its events, which had begun on May 10, with a statement read at the Martyr Dicle Shrine by the committee spokesperson, Stirvan Bozan, who said: “We dedicate this day to the souls of the martyrs who gave their blood to keep the Kurdish language alive.”

She added: “The Kurdish language is still oppressed in four authoritarian countries, but in Rojava, thanks to the struggle of the resistors and martyrs such as Viyan Amara, Akid Jilo, and Zozan Hasaka, we have achieved significant gains.”

She also called on teachers, intellectuals, and students to continue efforts to strengthen the Kurdish language in all areas of life, stressing that: “Education in the mother tongue is a legitimate and fundamental right, and it must be recognized in the Syrian constitution. More than ever, we are called to revive our language in schools, institutions, neighborhoods, villages, and streets.”

The statement concluded with the slogan: “Long live the resistance for the Kurdish language. The Kurdish language is our identity and our existence.”

A-H

ANHA