Roundup: From Sweets to the Streets, Syria’s Kurds Protest Assad

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Amoude, Syria- A small girl with a giant voice chants about how beautiful freedom is while a wave of men smile and dance behind her, waving Syrian and Kurdish flags.

The Kurdish region of Syria has continued to see campaigns and protests against the Assad regime, of which this girl and the men she leads are a small part of. The relationship between the formal Kurdish opposition and the Syrian National Council has been rocky of late, with SNC leader Burhan Ghalioun saying that “There is no such thing as a Syrian Kurdistan.” Ghalioun’s comment was poorly received, particularly in the context of the Kurdish National Council’s separation from the SNC the month before, and sparked protests in support of Kurdish rights throughout the Kurdish region.

"Ghalioun, Kurdistan is right here."

The Kurdish people and local revolutionary groups have been very active in organizing visible efforts against the regime. One of the many creative ways Kurds have resisted against the regime is through sweetness. In particul, this Kurdish LCC in Rukn al Deen, Damascus wrap candies and sweets with revolutionary messages and distribute them throughout the city. That simple nonviolent act serves to spread their revolutionary message throughout the city in a lasting and meaningful way.

This Friday’s protests brought many Syrian Kurds to the streets to celebrate the revolution in their own unique way. Kurds waved Syrian and Kurdish flags (sewn into the same flag in some cases), and sang “Biji Kurdistan” (Long live Kurdistan) as part of a Kurdish remix of the popular revolutionary song “Yallah Irhel Ya Bashar”.

Although this Friday’s wave of protests was called “Victory from God” in most of Syria, some Kurdish neighborhoods held signs referring to the day as “Friday of Celebrating Kurds in Aleppo”, in recognition of the Kurdish minority across the city that are often unrecognized.

For a full round up of videos, articles, and pictures of Kurds in Syria protesting against the regime, visit our page on Crowdvoice.