Cultural stagnation looms over northern Syrian, affected by the absence of stability

Derik – North-press Agency

Solnar Mohammad

Stagnation looms over the cultural scene in the area of Derik (Malikiya), northeast of Hasakah in the far northeast of Syria, affected by the absence of stability as a result of the political transformations which are taking place in the region, and the ongoing Turkish military invasion in the region. Whereas, the Turkish military invasion in the region has greatly affected all aspects of economic, social and cultural life.

 Malavan Rasoul, a media writer and interested in cultural affairs explained to North-Press that the demand for libraries, publishing houses and presses has completely declined, noting that the cultural situation is in a state of complete stagnation, as he stated. Malavan pointed the offices' visits decreased significantly, as a result of the recent attacks by the Turkish military and its armed opposition groups in northeastern Syria.  

For his part, Ahmad Soufi,  a writer and a journalist, explained that wars don't allow culture and other fields to develop and progress, saying: "the outbreak of wars occupies the people by securing a livelihood for their children and families, instead of caring for cultural matters.”

Soufi added that, the instability of the region has an impact on the cultural, social and political situation.   

For his part, Abdel Rahman Sadiq, a member of the Union of Intellectuals in al-Jazira region said that the absence of stability in the region has "negative repercussions on intellectuals, authors, poets and even politicians.” He stated that the effect is reflected in the retreat of the educated audience as a result of the citizens' preoccupation with their livelihood, and their inability to attend seminars of the intellectuals to listen to their opinions and ideas, noting that the cultural audience in the past year was good, but it "retreated even in the presence of demonstrations for example,” according to him.  

Despite the cultural stagnation that prevailed in northeastern Syria, it witnessed a new and different era than it was before the Syrian crisis, by the emergence of individual attempts by some intellectuals who contributed in creating projects which had a positive impact on the society.