Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary-general. Photo: Screenshot/Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Reacting to the exclusion of the Kurdish New Year, known as Newroz from Syria's national celebrations and holidays by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, the United Nations on Wednesday said it is "important" that Damascus authorities ensure that every Syrian "feels included" in the future of the country.
"We are of course aware of the issuance of the presidential decree regarding the public holidays. For us, as I have said many times, it is important that Syrian authorities to ensure that every Syrian regardless of their religion, their ethnicity, feels included in the future of their country," Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, told Rudaw's Namo Abdulla on Wednesday.
Dujarric added that they "reiterate the imperative of supporting a credible, orderly, and inclusive political transition in Syria."
A presidential decree, dated September 29 and signed by Sharaa, which was published by the Syrian presidency on Sunday, excluded Newroz as a national celebration in Syria. March 21 - the day Newroz celebrations begin - has been designated as a public holiday for Mother's Day instead.
The decree was published on the same day elections were held in Damascus-held areas to select members of the country's first post-Assad parliament. The process was denounced by many, including Kurdish authorities in northeastern Syria (Rojava), as being undemocratic, since the new assembly is set to consolidate the power of Sharaa.
Newroz, which marks the first day of spring, is celebrated by millions of Kurds in the Kurdistan Region and Kurdish regions in Turkey, Iran, and Syria. The Kurdish diaspora in the West also celebrate Newroz.
On Newroz eve, bonfires are traditionally lit, often on mountain or hill tops. In the days that follow, Kurds often go on picnics and light bonfires with their families and loved ones to mark the occasion which symbolizes freedom and resistance against tyranny.
Sharaa's announcement came a week after Faysal Yousef, spokesperson for the Kurdish National Council (KNC/ENKS), a Kurdish opposition umbrella group, urged Damasus that the transitional administration must "recognize Newroz".
Unofficial numbers estimate Kurds to be between 2-3.5 million, representing roughly about 10 percent of Syria's population.
Under the new leadership, Syria will celebrate 13 holidays, most notably Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, and the fall of the Assad regime in December.
The new authority in Damascus, which came to power after toppling Assad in December, has been accused of sidelining minorities in its March adopted constitutional declaration and key decision-making bodies. Sharaa’s government, however, is cautious when dealing with minorities, as respecting human rights is one of the conditions imposed by the international community for lifting Assad-era sanctions.
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