The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have sent warm greetings to the Kurdish people on the occasion of Newroz 2025.
“We extend our warmest congratulations and blessings to our Kurdish people, to the Syrian people and to the world on the occasion of Newroz, and we extend our congratulations to all our fighters,” the group wrote.
The SDF wrote that they hoped that Newroz would herald the “beginning of a new era in Syria, as it is the Kurdish New Year and the beginning of the spring season.”
“Just as Newroz means holding on to the land and the homeland, we must all preserve the historical values of Newroz, to translate it into protecting our people from all threats and restore our social cohesion and vitality, so that we can feel safe and secure and enter a phase in which we can regain what we have lost over the years of the Syrian crisis.”
The SDF has just signed an agreement with caretaker Syrian president Ahmed Al-Sharaa (al-Julani) to integrate their forces with state institutions, so these metaphors of hope and new beginnings are particularly significant right now. On top of that, the SDF’s general commander Mazloum Abdi has made a public statement backing Abdullah Öcalan’s call for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to disarm, as a route to peace and democracy in Turkey. The SDF wrote that Newroz “has deep-rooted meanings of resistance and peace”, and that the festival itself represents “victory over injustice and the spread of peace and security, which then becomes the property of all the peoples of the region.” These statements of hope for a fresh beginning acknowledge the potential that the new initiatives will bring an end to war.
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The SDF sent a strong message that they hoped that 2025 could signal the beginning of “writing a new history for our homeland Syria” with an emphasis on Syria being for all Syrians, with no one marginalised or excluded.
“We look forward to embodying the meanings of Newroz in Syria and leading it to a bright and safe future that embraces all of its people and stops all cases of division and fighting. Where love and brotherhood prevail based on the principles of justice, equality and acceptance of others.”
The statement concluded by expressing hope that everyone can enjoy Newroz in a spirit of “joy and jubilation, after we have turned a dark page in Syria’s history”.
