Serin Mohammed

Aleppo — The music video highlights the struggle and steadfastness of the residents of the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods in Aleppo, Syria, as they have faced repeated sieges and attacks throughout different periods — starting from the Ba’ath regime era up to the current blockade. The video also emphasizes the role of women in the resistance.

The Hilal Zerin Movement, in collaboration with the Jamil Horo Center for Culture and Art, is preparing to launch a new music video titled "Sheikh Maqsoud, the Fortress of Resistance." The video was filmed in the cemeteries area of eastern Sheikh Maqsoud and embodies the spirit of determination and resilience that the people of these neighborhoods have shown against continuous assaults and an ongoing siege — beginning during the Ba’ath regime and continuing to the present, where the region is under severe blockade imposed by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham after its takeover.

Salwa Mohammed, a member of the Hilal Zerin Movement in Aleppo and a member of the “Dalila” team, expressed her gratitude to everyone who contributed to the production of "Sheikh Maqsoud, the Fortress of Resistance." She affirmed that the aim of this artistic work is to shed light on the steadfastness of the people of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh and to immortalize their heroism in defending their neighborhoods against repeated sieges and attacks.

Journalist Saya Osman from the Hilal Zerin Movement revealed details about the production of the song, noting that its lyrics and melody were created by Suzan Bilal, a member of the movement. The recording took place at Hikmat Milan Studio, and the entire process of recording and preparing the video clip took about two weeks.

 

She added that the filming included participation from the Martyr Fajin Band affiliated with Hilal Zerin, as well as members of the Martyr Shilan Council from Kongra Star, and members of the Martyr Jamil Horo Center for Culture and Art. Around 70 women and young girls took part in the production — a living embodiment of women’s steadfastness and role in the resistance. The song is expected to be officially released and distributed one week from now.

Osman also noted that the video will include scenes from the Tishrin Dam Resistance, in an effort to link the struggles of Sheikh Maqsoud residents to a broader history of perseverance. She emphasized that the main message of the song goes beyond the notion of armed resistance, underscoring that visual documentation itself is a form of resistance. The endurance of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh residents has become a symbol and a proud addition to the long record of bravery and resilience in these neighborhoods, as locals have stood side by side with the internal security forces.

Saya Osman stressed that gathering such a large number of women and girls for this project was not an easy task, highlighting that one of the most distinctive aspects of the song is that it was written by a woman — reflecting the strong presence of women in both art and resistance.

She called on the residents to continue their struggle in all its forms, affirming that the women and girls of Hilal Zerin are ready to engage in every kind of resistance, including taking up arms if necessary, as women’s will and resilience cannot be broken by any force.

It is worth noting that the Syrian Interim Government has imposed a severe blockade on the residents of the Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhoods, cutting off all access roads leading to them. In response, the locals organized a peaceful demonstration demanding the reopening of the roads and the removal of the earth barriers isolating them from their surroundings. However, the response from the security forces was the use of tear gas and live ammunition against civilians, escalating tensions in the area and worsening the suffering of the besieged population.