ŞÊRÎN ELÎ

Shehba- While culture includes all the values of societies, all attacks against people are first carried out against their cultural values.  Women of Afrin were forcibly displaced from Afrin to Shehba wearing their traditional clothes after Turkey and Turkish-backed factions attacked their city. They still conserve their culture by keeping wearing their traditional clothes. Shehba is the house of people from different nationals. When you walk around the city, you easily recognize women of Afrin from their clothes.  We spoke to several women of Afrin living in Shehba.

“We will teach this culture to the new generation”

Sinem Ehmed Şexo, who is from the Ashko village of Afrin’s Jindires town, told us that they don’t forget their culture although they have been displaced from Afrin. “We will wear our traditional clothes until we die. I have worn Kurdish traditional clothes for 30 years. Each of the women from Afrin should remember their culture. We preserve Kurdish culture and the culture of Afrin with our traditional clothes. Our mothers and grandmothers taught us this culture and we will teach this culture to the new generation,” she said.

“We are known for our clothes”

40-year-old Guneyi Aref Heson, who is from Xaziyana village of Afrin’s Mabata town, noted that the people of Afrin are known for their traditional clothes in Shehba. Guneyi Aref Heson has worn traditional clothes since she was 14 years old. “People living in Shehba understand I am from Afrin from my clothes. We should remember the values of Kurds and protect them from the invasion of the Turkish state. Every country is known for its culture. We are also known for our culture. When we were forcibly displaced from Afrin, we wore our traditional clothes. When the people of Shehba saw us, they understood we were from Afrin.”

“We preserve our culture”

53-year-old Fikret Hesen, who is from Ster village of Afrin, told us that they will preserve their culture by wearing their traditional clothes. “We wear our traditional clothes during celebrations. But those who went to other countries forget their culture. We should pass down our culture from generation to generation to preserve it.”