Jazira residents demand constitutional recognition of Kurdish

Thousands of residents of Girkê Legê, Jal Agha, Dêrik and Tirbê Spîyê in the Jazira region took part in protests today against the Syrian Transitional Government’s Ministry of Education decision to limit Kurdish language instruction to just three classes per week, reaffirming their commitment to their right to education in their mother tongue.

A joint statement was read during the protests.

Girkê Legê

In Girkê Legê, the protest began at Martyr Khabat Square, with wide participation from residents, students and female teachers. The protesters marched through the city’s main streets, holding banners highlighting the importance of the Kurdish language and the need to preserve it. Some included: “Our language is the source of our strength, and we will not give it up,” “The mother tongue is the homeland,” “We want to study in our language,” and “Three classes are not enough; we want to study in our mother tongue.”

The protesters chanted slogans stressing that the Kurdish language represents the identity and existence of the Kurdish people, calling for its constitutional recognition and official recognition as a language in the new Syria.

When the protest reached the city’s central market, it turned into a sit-in, beginning with a minute of silence in tribute to the souls of the martyrs.

Speaking on behalf of students in Girkê Legê, student Lovin Youssef said that education in the mother tongue is one of the most basic rights of students, denouncing the Ministry of Education’s decision to reduce Kurdish language instruction to three classes per week.

Lovin stressed that the Syrian revolution was launched to achieve the rights of all components of Syria, noting that the Kurdish people have made many sacrifices and helped preserve Syria’s unity. She said their language, culture and rights therefore cannot be denied.

She called for the decision to reduce Kurdish language classes to be reconsidered, stressing the need to recognize Kurdish as an official language in the country and respect the rights of the Kurdish people.

The march concluded with chants calling for recognition of the Kurdish language and affirming that Kurdish represents the existence and identity of the Kurdish people.

Jal Agha

The protest began at al-Dalla Roundabout and headed toward the city center, reaching Martyr Masoum Square, where it turned into a mass gathering.

Dêrik

Residents of Dêrik, along with Kurdish language teachers, took part in a protest that marched through the city’s streets, calling for Kurdish to be adopted as a primary language in the Syrian school curriculum and enshrined in the Syrian Constitution.

During the protest, Ferdia Ibrahim, a member of the People’s Initiative in Dêrik, criticized the reduction in Kurdish language instruction, stressing that the Kurdish language is an existential issue for the Kurdish people.

Tirbê Spîyê

The protest began in front of the city’s Education Complex and stopped at Azadi Roundabout, where protesters chanted slogans including “The Kurdish language is our culture and our existence,” “Long live our language,” and “The mother tongue is the national spirit.”

A statement was also read by Ronahi Abdul Aziz, a member of the People’s Initiative in Tirbê Spîyê.

The statement included: “In accordance with the January 29, 2026 agreement, the process of integration continues. Under the standards of this integration, the Kurdish people have been recognized as an indigenous component and nation in Syria. All efforts and actions must continue to be based on the principle of the Kurds’ existence in Syria.

However, many recent developments have repeatedly gone beyond or violated this principle. The latest has been ongoing attempts to change the name of Kobani to ‘Ayn al-Arab.’ At the same time, the Transitional Government is seeking to impose this policy across the Kurdish geography, change the names of areas, and gradually sever these areas from their Kurdish identity.

This position contradicts the January 29 agreement and also constitutes an attempt to target the existence of the Kurdish identity and language.”

We, for our part, do not accept this position. We are Kurds, our language is Kurdish, and the names of the homeland of our fathers and ancestors are Kurdish as well. The Transitional Government must respect this reality and recognize it legally.

We say to the officials: Respect us, and respect our language and history. Our demand is that no positions denying the existence of the Kurds be accepted.

For the integration process to succeed, the Transitional Government must fulfill its responsibilities, while the Kurdish people as a whole must remain vigilant and sensitive to this issue.

Our people will make no concessions on these matters and will not accept any attacks targeting their existence. We are waiting for each side to fulfill its responsibilities and protect civil and social peace.”

ANHA