Jal Agha residents: Kurdish recognition must be constitutionally enshrined

In light of the ongoing discussions about drafting a new constitution for Syria, the residents of the city of Jal Agha in al-Jazira region believe that the future of the Kurdish language should receive clear constitutional guaranties. They assert that its recognition should not be limited to issuing decrees or statements, but should be reflected in practical steps that ensure its status as an official language in the state.

The residents affirm that the Kurdish language is not merely a means of communication, but rather represents the identity, history, and culture of the Kurdish people. They believe that preserving and teaching it to future generations is a fundamental right that must be safeguarded in any political or constitutional settlement for Syria.

In this context, Khalaf Kuli told ANHA's agency that the recognition of the Kurdish language should be based on clear constitutional and legal texts, rather than being limited to decisions or statements published thru media outlets or digital platforms.

He pointed out the necessity of adopting the Kurdish language in official institutions, schools, and universities alongside Arabic and the other languages of Syria's components, which would grant it a true legal and constitutional status in the Syrian state.

He added: "As the Kurdish people and rightful sons of this region, we are attached to our mother tongue because it represents our history and identity. Any political solution in Syria must guaranty the rights of all components and preserve cultural and linguistic diversity."

For her part, Leyla Aliko affirmed that language forms the foundation of any people's identity, pointing out that the Kurds have managed to preserve their language despite many years of marginalization, which deprived many generations of learning and using it.

She added that the next phase, with the building of a new Syria, should witness a real resolution to this issue by establishing the status of the Kurdish language and the Kurds in the new constitution, and taking practical steps to ensure its implementation on the ground.

She explained that the demand for official recognition of the Kurdish language does not mean calling for separation, but rather comes within the framework of demanding legitimate constitutional and cultural rights that ensure the construction of a multicultural Syria, respecting the uniqueness of all its components.

She concluded her speech by affirming that the Kurdish people will not relinquish their linguistic rights, and that the preservation of these rights came as a result of significant sacrifices made by the region's inhabitants over the years.

For his part, Ramadan Murad said that recognizing the Kurdish language as a national language requires clear executive steps, calling for any decrees or decisions to be accompanied by practical mechanisms to include the Kurdish language in the educational system and ensure its use in official institutions and administrations.

He added that the Kurds' adherence to their language is not limited to being a means of communication, but because it represents their history, existence, and collective memory, pointing out that the continued marginalization of it means the continued targeting of the Kurdish people's cultural identity.

The people of Jal Agha believe that building a new Syria requires the establishment of the principle of equality among all components, and the constitutional guaranty of linguistic and cultural rights, ensuring the recognition of the Kurdish language as an official language alongside Arabic, and translating this recognition into practical reality in various state institutions.

ANHA