Syrian Arab promotes Kurdish culture
Kurds, an ethnic minority in Syria, suffered oppression under the “Arabization” policy of the Assad regime. But the Syrian revolution has brought along change. With a strong political and military presence in northeast Syria, Kurds are putting their past behind and working towards a better future. They have transformed from being underdogs to the ones in power. This newfound influence is not just political or military, but also cultural, and Kurdish culture is experiencing a sort of revival. Young Syrians, like Sameer Shaiyer, 28, are doing their bit to spread the word about Kurdish art forms. And what makes Samir’s job challenging is that he’s Arab.
Listen to the report by Gayatri Parameswaran and Felix Gaedtke report from Qamishlo, Syria:
Syrian Arab promotes Kurdish culture
Sameer Shaiyer has been singing Kurdish songs since he was a child (Photo: Felix Gaedtke)
