In Kurdish-led northern Syria, the people observing Eid al-Adha (the Feast of Sacrifice) visited cemeteries on Tuesday and Wednesday to pay tribute to their departed loved ones and honour those who lost their lives during the Rojava Revolution, which paved the way for the establishment of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).
Muslims traditionally visit the graves of their loved ones on Eid al-Adha to remember them and to pray for their souls to find eternal peace.
Since 2012, it has become customary practice on religious holidays in the Kurdish regions of Syria, known as Rojava, to commemorate the individuals who sacrificed their lives during the Syrian civil war.
Thousands of people assembled in the early hours of Wednesday, the first day of the Eid, to visit the cemeteries. They tenderly laid flowers on the graves of their departed family members, and lit candles in their memory.
The historical turn of events traces back to 19 July 2012, when Kurdish self-defence forces, under the banner of the People’s Protection Units (YPG), seized control of the city of Kobani (Kobanê) amidst the ongoing chaos of the Syrian civil war. Subsequently, the cities of Amuda (Amûdê), Afrin (Efrîn), Ras al-Ayn (Serê Kaniyê) and Al-Darbasiyah (Dirbêsiyê) followed.
Pro-Kurdish political parties, particularly the Democratic Union Party (PYD), spearheaded a transformative process wherein local councils and administrative bodies gradually emerged in Kurdish-majority areas of the region. This marked the onset of a profound political and social transformation in North and East Syria.
The culmination of these efforts materialised in January 2014 with the establishment of an autonomous entity resulting in significant changes such as the adoption of new forms of local governance, increased social and political empowerment of women, recognition of ethnic and cultural identities, and endeavours towards a more democratic education and healthcare system.
