Activists, engineers, doctors, journalists, tribal elders, and residents of the city of Kobanê have launched a community campaign calling for the official adoption of the name "Kobanê" in all government and administrative documents under the slogan: "Kobanê is an identity that cannot be erased, and a name that deserves to be officially recognized."
The campaign, which was launched two days ago, aims to protect the city's historical name and preserve its identity. It calls on official institutions and relevant authorities to adopt the name "Kobanê" in all official documents in accordance with the will of the city's residents and to safeguard its historical heritage for future generations.
Speaking to Hawar News Agency, citizen Sheikh Nabi Hami said: "A few days ago, we, the people of Kobanê, together with a number of activists, intellectuals, journalists, lawyers, doctors, and workers, launched a campaign to defend and protect the name of Kobanê. It began on social media through a hashtag campaign, and we are now preparing to organize a march and a sit-in to present the demands of the people of Kobanê to the relevant authorities."
He added: "We categorically reject the Arabization of the name of Kobanê and the imposition of any arbitrary measures or decisions against us, as happened under the chauvinistic Ba'ath regime, which pursued policies of Arabization and marginalization against the people of the region. We affirm that defending the name Kobanê is not merely about a name; it is about defending the history, identity, and collective memory of a people."
Hami continued: "We have paid a heavy price for Kobanê. We have sacrificed martyrs for it, and some of our people are still prisoners. Today, the interim government is Arabizing the name of Kobanê in its official institutions, where the name 'Ain al-Arab' is written while 'Kobanê' is placed in parentheses. We firmly reject this because the name Kobanê represents our history and identity."
He stressed that the name "Ain al-Arab" was imposed during the rule of the chauvinistic Ba'ath regime as part of a systematic policy of Arabization, adding: "It failed to erase the name Kobanê because it is deeply rooted in our historical heritage and firmly embedded in our collective cultural memory." He also emphasized that the city has become a global symbol of resistance following the defeat of ISIS there.
Hami pointed out that the head of the interim government, Ahmed al-Sharaa, had previously stated that the rights of the Kurdish people should be recognized. However, he said that "the cultural, linguistic, and identity rights, as well as the achievements gained by the Kurdish people in Kobanê, must not be undermined."
Concluding his remarks, Hami said: "We strongly reject any policy of changing names based on political considerations, and we will continue our peaceful struggle until our legitimate demand to officially recognize the name Kobanê in all government and administrative institutions is achieved." He added: "We are a people who do not know fear, and we will always remain the people of Kobanê. Our demand is clear: to officially recognize the name Kobanê and reject any other name imposed upon us."
Journalist Rabia Ito, for her part, said the campaign was launched in response to the continued use of the name "Ain al-Arab" in official institutions affiliated with the interim government, stressing: "We, the sons and daughters of Kobanê, reject the name Ain al-Arab and demand the use of the name Kobanê. That is why it was necessary to launch this campaign and support the people."
She added that Kobanê "carries a historic legacy and symbolizes resistance and struggle, and it is known throughout the world by this name," considering the use of "Ain al-Arab" to be an extension of the Arabization policies previously pursued by the Ba'ath regime.
Ito affirmed that the campaign seeks the official adoption of the name "Kobanê" in all government records and institutions. She noted that it will include media and community activities, a signature collection campaign, and awareness events aimed at reinforcing the importance of preserving the city's name as part of its collective memory and cultural heritage.
As part of its activities, the campaign is scheduled to organize a mass demonstration followed by a sit-in on 9 July. The event will begin at 18:00, starting from Ashti Roundabout and heading to Free Woman Square in central Kobanê, under the slogan: "Kobanê is an identity that cannot be erased, and a name that deserves to be officially recognized."
Note: This text is translated from the original Arabic version. Read the Arabic version:Click here
