Qamishlo residents refuse any changes in names of cities in their regions

The People's Initiative in Qamishlo released a statement today, which was delivered in the Martyr Dalil Sarukhan shrine square in Qamishlo by Loujain Ibrahim, a member of the Martyr Agid Jilo Academy. Many citizens were present and were holding banners reading: "Our language is ours; our language is our existence."

"The integration process launched according to the January 29, 2016 agreement recognizes Kurds as an essential component in the makeup of Syria, and thus requires managing affairs in Syria accordingly," the statement read.

"The attempts at changing the name of the city of Kobani to 'Ain al-Arab' and at changing the names of other regions in the Kurdish regions contradict the agreement, and are considered an assault on Kurdish identity, language, and culture," the statement added.

The statement emphasized that "the names of Kurdish cities and towns reflect Kurdish history and culture," calling on the Syrian Interim Government to respect and legally recognize this fact and to refrain from taking any measures that infringe upon the identity of Kurdish regions.

The statement also called on the relevant authorities to respect the Kurdish people, their language, and their history, affirming its rejection of any practices that deny the existence of the Kurds and stressing that the success of the integration process requires all parties to fulfill their responsibilities and implement the provisions of the agreements.

The statement called on the Kurdish people to remain vigilant and preserve their cultural and national identity, emphasizing that "the Kurdish people will not relinquish their rights or accept any measures that target their existence."

The event concluded with participants chanting slogans celebrating the Kurdish language and affirming their commitment to preserving Kurdish cultural identity.

ANHA