Syrian Kurds Mark Nowruz With Return to Afrin Amid National Milestone
AL BASOUTA, Syria — For the first time in eight years, the spring festival of Nowruz was marked by a profound sense of homecoming in Syria’s Afrin district. Hundreds of Kurdish families, including Abdul Rahman Omar, have returned to their ancestral villages to celebrate the ancient holiday, a milestone made possible by a landmark political transformation in the country.
Nowruz, a 3,000-year-old festival with roots in Zoroastrianism, is observed by millions across the Middle East and the global diaspora. While traditionally a time for street festivals and torch-bearing processions, this year’s celebrations carry heightened significance as the Syrian government has officially designated Nowruz a national holiday for the first time.
Key developments from the region include:
- A government-facilitated return of 400 families from Hassakeh province to Afrin, signaling a major reversal of regional displacement.
- The formal integration of Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the national army as part of a wider peace process.
- The enactment of Decree No. 13, which recognizes Kurdish as a national language and grants citizenship to previously stateless individuals.
- The official status of Nowruz as a recognized national holiday, with major state-sponsored events held in Damascus and across northern territories.
The return to Afrin reflects a broader shift in Syria’s political landscape. Following a fierce conflict that saw the territory seized by Turkish-backed forces in 2018, recent peace agreements have fundamentally altered the relationship between Damascus and the Kurdish-led autonomous regions. As part of a deal to merge internal security forces into the national army, the central government has committed to restoring public institutions and protecting the rights of ethnic minorities.
For residents like Omar, who spent years as an exile in Aleppo, the homecoming is emotionally complex. “When a person is away from his home for eight years, of course he misses and longs for it,” he said. The joy of the homecoming was visible on Friday evening, as young men and women participated in traditional line dances and trekked into the hills of al-Basouta. Participants hoisted Kurdish flags and used fire to spell “raperin”—the Kurdish word for “uprising”—on the mountainside.
Despite the celebratory atmosphere, political analysts suggest the move remains a delicate process. Security forces have been deployed across key sites, including the Ain Dara archaeological site, to ensure protection during the festivities. Political Figures, such as Afrin KNCS head Ahmad Hassan, have expressed cautious optimism, viewing these legal protections as a necessary first step toward long-term stability.
The Syrian leadership, under President al-Sharaa, has publicly urged citizens to reject sectarian narratives, emphasizing that Kurdish cultural identity is now considered a vital pillar of the modern Syrian state. As the festivities continue from the Umayyad Square in Damascus to the shores of Lake Maydanki, the return of displaced families serves as a hopeful indicator that a new, albeit challenging, chapter of reconciliation is underway.
