Damascus, March 22 (SANA) Syria’s Ministry of Culture organized a festival in Damascus on Saturday to mark Newroz, the Kurdish New Year, with performances and speeches highlighting the country’s cultural diversity and unity.
The event, held at the Mezzeh sports complex in cooperation with the Kurdish National Council, featured artistic and poetic performances reflecting Kurdish heritage. It was attended by officials and drew broad public participation.
The program opened with Kurdish poetry focusing on themes of freedom and resilience, followed by a performance by children from the “Azadi” troupe set to music.
Singer Simko Murad performed songs associated with Newroz celebrations alongside traditional Kurdish folk pieces.
Neamat Dawood, head of the General Secretariat Council of the Kurdish National Council, said in a speech that the celebration comes after years of challenges that affected Syria’s social fabric. He added that Newroz has historically symbolized renewal and the triumph of life, expressing hope for a future based on unity and shared national identity.
He described this year’s celebration as particularly significant, reflecting renewed optimism among Syrians and aspirations to build a country that includes all its communities.
Deputy Culture Minister Ahmad al-Sawaf said the Kurdish community is an integral part of Syria’s social, political and economic fabric, adding that the ministry’s participation reflects a message of inclusion within a shared national framework.
Salma Suleiman, a member of the Kurdish National Council, said the celebration reflects values of peace and coexistence, noting that this year’s event differs from previous years following a recent presidential decree.
Abdullah Ahmad, a local council member in Damascus, said the festival marks the first time in decades that Newroz has been celebrated with official support, describing it as an occasion shared by Syrians from different backgrounds.
A presidential decree issued in 2026 affirmed that Kurdish Syrians are an integral part of the national fabric and recognized their linguistic and cultural identity as part of Syria’s broader national identity.
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