NURŞAN EBDÎ
Kobanê – Amid Syria’s political transition following the fall of the regime and the rise of the interim government, marginalized communities are pressing for constitutional guarantees. At the forefront are Kurds, who argue that recognition of their mother tongue is essential to preserving their identity and securing their rights.

‘Mother tongue is history and identity’
Ronida Ali, an administrator at the Kurdish Language Institute in Kobani, said that building a decentralized, democratic Syria requires constitutional recognition of all communities, identities, languages, and religions.

She argued that despite the change in government, policies toward the Kurds remain largely the same. “They continue to reject Kurdish achievements, our identity, and our language. The refusal to provide legal guarantees for Kurds in the new Syrian constitution reflects the broader policies of dominant states toward minorities,” she said.

Ali stressed that despite massacres, forced displacement, and decades of denial, Kurds have continued to resist and safeguard their language and identity. “Mother tongue is history and identity. When hegemonic powers seek to erase a community, they first target its language and culture,” she added.

Condemning the interim government for excluding Kurds from constitutional recognition, she said: “The Kurdish people have fought and made huge sacrifices for the gains they now defend. We will not allow these achievements to be taken away.”

Ali emphasized that Kurds are not demanding special privileges, but equality. “We demand recognition of our language, just as Arabic is recognized. This must apply to all communities in Syria — Kurds, Arabs, Assyrians, and Syriacs. What we seek is peace, democracy, and a free Syria that embraces everyone.”

Defending culture and language
Ali underlined the responsibility of Kurdish communities to safeguard and develop their language in order to secure their rights in a new Syria. The Kurdish Language Institute, she noted, has launched courses across neighborhoods, communes, and councils, offering three levels of classes for learners of all ages.

She recalled that for more than a century, Kurds across the four parts of Kurdistan have faced massacres and systematic repression aimed at erasing their identity. “After the July 19 Revolution, also known as the Women’s Revolution, we gained the strength to resist authoritarianism and secure many achievements through sacrifice. These cannot be surrendered or taken from us,” she said.

Citing Abdullah Öcalan’s call for peace and a democratic society, Ali urged Syria’s new authorities to end conflict and embrace political dialogue. “It is time for peace, democracy, and negotiations to build a free, democratic Syria inclusive of all its components.”