Demonstration in Derik condemns school name changes

 On Thursday, residents, students, and teachers in the city of Derik held a protest to condemn the Syrian Interim Government's decision to change school names.

Participants carried pictures of martyrs, along with banners that read, "Students are the guardians of a free life," "Our right to education must be guaranteed in the constitution," "Our language is our identity," and "The names of our martyrs are our red line." They chanted slogans such as "No life without language."

The march began in Freedom Square before stopping in the middle of the market, where a statement on behalf of the students was read by student Evelyn Ali.

The statement affirmed the students' commitment to their societal and cultural values, language, and history, considering them a "red line," and emphasizing that protecting and defending them is a humanitarian duty fundamentally linked to the education sector.

The statement indicated that recent measures, including changing the names of schools bearing the names of martyrs, along with the negative view of Kurdish-language curricula, constitute a violation of human rights and demonstrate a departure from democratic principles and shared agreements.

The statement also stressed that education in one's mother tongue is a fundamental right that begins in childhood and encompasses all segments of society. It noted that naming schools after martyrs reflects the goals of the educational process and is linked to continuing their legacy, as the current achievements would not have been possible without their sacrifices.

In their statement, the students declared their rejection and condemnation of the attack on their right to learn in their mother tongue, as well as their rejection of the desecration of the martyrs' names, affirming their aspiration to live with dignity within a free and democratic society.

The statement concluded by emphasizing their continued defense of the right to learn in their mother tongue and the protection of societal values.

It is noted that the interim government in Syria recently changed the names of schools that bear the names of martyrs in cities such as Raqqa and Tabqa, and gave them names according to its policies, which was met with discontent from the residents.

ANHA