Kurds in Afrin celebrate Nowruz despite ban
Kurds in Syria’s northern city of Afrin, joined by internally displaced people, celebrated Nowruz despite a ban imposed by armed opposition factions.
On the rooftop of a building in the city of Afrin in northwestern Syria, Keilistan Afrini celebrated Nowruz in protest against a decision by Syrian armed opposition factions to ban celebrations of the Kurdish New Year that falls on or around March 21 every year.
Afrini lit the Nowruz fire with her friends, and they danced to the rhythm of Kurdish music. She told Al-Monitor that they took photos of themselves tied to their musical instruments with metal chains as a sign of celebration and protest at the same time.
She added, “For us, Nowruz means going out into nature, celebrating, lighting fire in all fields and singing from morning to evening. But we held small-scale celebrations instead.”
While Afrini and her friends celebrated Nowruz, three members of the opposition in Afrin raided the place and extinguished the fire. But a military force soon came and apologized, promising to hold the members accountable.
