DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Elias wishes to attend or even organize cultural events in Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria, but the lack of cultural centers prevents that from happening, although he is interested in cultural matters.
Elias al-Khedr, 48, from the village of al-Kasra, 35 km west of Deir ez-Zor, told North Press that he had not attended any cultural events since the establishment of the Deir ez-Zor Civil Administration, affiliated with the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).
The AANES was first formed in 2014 in the Kurdish-majority regions of Afrin, Kobani, and Jazira in northern Syria following the withdrawal of the government forces. Later, it was expanded to Manbij, Tabqa, Raqqa, Hasakah, and Deir ez-Zor after the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) territorially defeated the Islamic State (ISIS) in those regions.
Cultural activities do not happen in Deir ez-Zor due to neglect, lack of support, and marginalization of cultural centers by the AANES and civil society organizations.
Al-Khedr surprised that Deir ez-Zor is culturally neglected despite having a long history and the Euphrates River there.
He gets irritated when other cities are leading the cultural scene while, at the same time, his city is neglected in relation to launching book exhibitions and theatrical performances.
Salwa Muhammad, 40, from the village of Meheimideh, 12km west of Deir ez-Zor, believes there are many talents, poets and intellectuals interested in culture in Deir ez-Zor.
She said there is an obvious neglect to this field amid absence of support for cultural centers.
She is surprised why this region is neglected and thinks “it is necessary to revive the heritage and work to show the tradition and customs of the community to the world.”
Maryam al-Hamad, 53, from the Hamar al-Kasra, 33km west of Deir ez-Zor, talking to North Press, describes the cultural reality in her region as “bad,” similar to the different aspects of living in the region.
All cultural centers were established formally, without carrying out projects in real life, according to Maryam.
Cultural events and festivals were not organized and were limited to the participation of certain groups in other regions despite having talented people that could hold seminars, poetry evenings and theatrical performances.
She demands to support the cultural sector in Deir ez-Zor and work to develop it to spread the culture of the region.
Tahani al-Awad, co-chair of the cultural center in Deir ez-Zor, told North Press that cultural events in Deir ez-Zor were limited to the participation of teams in events in other areas such as Hasakah and Raqqa.
“In Deir ez-Zor, there are many obstacles, including financial and moral, which are the main reasons why there are no special activities,” she added.
The cultural center in Deir ez-Zor demanded to provide support to form children and young adults teams and hold poetry evenings. “But so far, there has been no response from the AANES or even civil society organizations. This has negatively affected in promoting the heritage of the region to the world,” according to al-Awad.
The center prepared a new work plan and is ready for execution, “but it is waiting the financial support. We contacted the relevant authorities many times but received no response,” she noted.
Despite the “very weak” support in 2023, the center presented several activities, including one in Newroz festivities and a play in the al-Maamel region. They also worked on holding a seminar with the aim of brining awareness to the importance of a culture based on morals and activities that aim to promote the heritage, but the lack of a financial support remains an obstacle, according to al-Awad.