Manbij Intellectuals Union ends second conference amid encountered obstacles in its new year

The second conference of the “Intellectuals Union” in Manbij and its countryside in northeastern Syria has ended on Saturday, with selecting an administrative board for the Union following reading, discussing and approving the internal rules of procedures of the Union, as it was accompanied with administrative difficulties suffered by the Union during last year.
The conference, which began on Saturday morning under the slogan “Culture reflects values and civilization”, at Culture and Arts Center in Manbij, was attended by the intellectuals of all components of the city, along with members of institutions of the Democratic Civil Administration.

Delay of the conference
North-Press learned that the conference was delayed from the previously set date, while Ahmed Abu Shukair, a member of the city’s Intellectuals Union and a member of the preparatory committee for the second conference, explained to North-Press the reasons of the delay.
Abu Shukair confirmed that the postponement came as a result of the administrative obstacles of the Union, in addition to the fact that the Union is in a constituent stage, pointing to the lack of attendance by intellectuals of Manbij.
Abu Shukair explained through annual report, that the Union has organized several events during last year, including the opening of a library, seminars on education, seminars for women, and poetry evenings, with many other cultural activities in north and eastern cities of Syria.
He also pointed out that the administrative situation of the Union was less organized, noting the change of the administrative board’s members more than once, with the lack of clarity of the intellectuals’ attitude towards the threats against the city of Manbij.

Negligence of culture
Fatoum al-Sharq, a member of Intellectuals Union in Manbij, said that the intellectuals movement has an active role in any society, especially in the city of Manbij, which has suffered marginalization of culture in the past times.
Al-Sharq stressed the importance of providing a suitable environment and atmosphere for women to play their cultural role, whether inside or outside home.
While she mentioned the negative role of social media in influencing the culture in general, and on reading in particular.
Al-Sharq also pointed to social obstacles which affect educated women, in light of what she described as a “culture of shame”, in addition to intellectual and political concerns, and fears of the security situation, while adding that the cultural situation in Manbej is acceptable.
The first conference of the Intellectuals Union in Manbij and its countryside was held on April 21, 2018, while the center of the Union was officially opened on August 15 of the same year.

Difficulties
The co-chair of the Intellectuals Union in Manbij and its countryside, the poet Ahmad al-Yousef, explained that the Union has faced several difficulties since its establishment, including the security situation, in addition to the existence of different political and social matters of some intellectuals in Manbij.
He revealed that they have faced difficulties in persuading intellectuals to bring them under one roof, despite their different perspectives, pointing out that no responses had been received by them as were hoped.
The second conference of the Intellectuals Union in Manbij and its countryside ended with the formation of a seven-person committee to administrate the Union.