Anniversary of the Founding of the Kurdish University of Afrîn (July 26): The Destruction of Kurdish Life in Northern Syria Continues

Eleven years ago, Syria’s first Kurdish university was founded in the Kurdish region of Afrîn. On its founding anniversary on July 26, the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) remembers its destruction by the Turkish state and its ongoing crimes in northern Syria.

“Just three years after its founding, the university was closed and partially destroyed following Turkey’s occupation of Afrîn, which violated international law. Its fate symbolizes the destruction and suppression of Kurdish culture and language in Afrîn under Turkish occupation,” says Dr. Kamal Sido, STP’s Middle East Advisor.

“Although the fall of the Assad regime has removed the Turkish state’s official justification for the occupation of Afrin, the situation on the ground has not fundamentally changed. In fact, Turkey dictates the Syrian regime’s policies, particularly decisions affecting the Kurds. In this regard, nothing happens without Turkish approval,” Sido emphasizes.

“Turkey continues to control all aspects of public life in Afrîn. Turkish institutions promote Islam and the Turkish language in accordance with the Turkish state’s agenda. The Turkish lira is the dominant currency in Afrîn. The telecommunications companies, telephone networks, and internet networks are also Turkish. In addition, there are still four Turkish military bases,” reports the Middle East Advisor. This allows the Turkish state to completely control the lives of the remaining Kurds in Afrin. The Turkish state’s goal remains to restrict the Kurdish language and culture to such an extent that they are virtually eradicated.

In the villages and towns from which the Turkish army and its Islamist militias have withdrawn, they leave behind a trail of devastation and destruction. One example is the Kurdish village of Basile in Afrin, which was evacuated in recent days following the Turkish army’s occupation in 2018. “Former residents who returned for the first time in eight years told me that almost nothing remains of their village. Front doors, windows, tiles, and even gravestones were removed. Nearly 90 percent of the houses are destroyed or uninhabitable. Even the village cemetery, where many of my relatives are buried, has been partially destroyed and desecrated,” says Sido.

The regime in Damascus is also attempting to further Arabize and Islamize the region. One example of this is the attempt by the new ruler, al-Scharaa, to Arabize the name of the Kurdish city and region of Kobanê, which are regarded worldwide as a symbol of resistance against the “Islamic State” (IS). The Kurdish name Kobanê is to be replaced by “Ain al-Arab” (“Source of the Arabs”). Although Syria was simply called the “Republic of Syria” after the end of French colonial rule, the name “Syrian Arab Republic” is not to be changed. According to the STP, all these measures by the new regime in Damascus run counter to the interests of Syria’s minorities, which include the Kurds, Assyrians/Arameans, Druze, Alawites, Ismailis, and Yazidis.

This press release was translated from German to English using AI. If you come across errors or ambiguities, please contact us at 65]G378o6DD6CA.