{"id":130706,"date":"2025-10-07T18:41:30","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T18:41:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/npasyria.com\/en\/?p=130706"},"modified":"2025-10-07T18:45:42","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T18:45:42","slug":"qamishli-residents-protest-presidential-decree-ignoring-national-holidays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/npasyria.com\/en\/130706\/","title":{"rendered":"Qamishli residents protest presidential decree Ignoring national holidays"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) <\/strong>\u2013 Dozens of activists and residents gathered on Tuesday at Zouri Roundabout, southern Qamishli, to protest a presidential decree issued by President Ahmad al-Shara which excluded their national holidays from the official list of public holidays.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The protest came two days after the Syrian presidency issued a decree defining the official holidays and public celebrations across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Monday, the Syriac Cultural Association in Syria expressed dissatisfaction over the omission of Akitu \u2013 the Babylonian-Assyrian-Syriac New Year \u2013 from the list of recognized holidays by the Syrian Transitional Government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ahmad Mardli, co-chair of the Photographers\u2019 Union, told North Press, \u201cIn coordination with local activists in Qamishli, we lit the Newroz flame as a symbolic response to the government\u2019s decision not to recognize our national holiday, the Kurdish New Year, Newroz, which represents a cultural and historical identity for the Kurdish people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added that the action aimed to send a message to the interim government: \u201cWhenever our identity or traditions are denied, we will continue to light the Newroz flame as a symbol of resistance and endurance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Women\u2019s rights activist Najla Temo also said, \u201cWe came out today to protest the government\u2019s refusal to recognize Newroz, which for us as Kurds is a historic and sacred celebration that no authority can erase.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She noted that \u201cthe former Syrian regime had long denied this holiday, and now the new government has repeated the same policy,\u201d describing the decision as \u201ca clear indication that sectarian and discriminatory attitudes continue to persist against minority communities.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The protest concluded peacefully, with participants reaffirming their commitment to cultural and national rights within a democratic framework that respects Syria\u2019s diversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Atoun Jan<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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