The Syrian Future Movement extends its warmest congratulations and best wishes to the Kurdish people of Syria and to all Syrians celebrating Nowruz on March 21, 2026, a symbol of renewal, rebirth, and hope that is rekindled with the arrival of spring.
The Syrian Future Movement views Nowruz as a significant historical occasion that reflects the rich cultural and civilizational diversity that adorns the fabric of the Syrian nation, and affirms that Syria is a homeland for all, united by a shared history and a common destiny.
The Syrian Future Movement congratulates our Kurdish people on this long-awaited celebration, following Presidential Decree No. (13) of 2026, issued on January 16, 2026, which stipulates in its fifth article that Nowruz (March 21) is an official paid holiday throughout the Syrian Arab Republic, as a national holiday symbolizing spring and fraternity. The decree also emphasizes that Kurdish Syrian citizens are an essential and integral part of the Syrian people, and that their cultural and linguistic identity is an inseparable part of the diverse and unified Syrian national identity.
The Syrian Future Movement indicates that this official recognition represents a positive step towards building a state of equal citizenship. It has enabled many Syrians to celebrate openly in Damascus and its squares (such as Umayyad Square and the Opera House), in the northeastern regions (Hasakah, Qamishli, Amuda, Afrin, and others), and in other areas, with Nowruz torches, traditional dances, and costumes, thus strengthening the spirit of coexistence within a unified national framework.
The Syrian Future Movement hopes that this holiday will be a harbinger of good fortune for strengthening national unity among all Syrians and that it will become a symbol of peaceful coexistence and solidarity, far removed from any political, sectarian, or ethnic exploitation that sows division.
The Syrian Future Movement expresses its deep regret for the unfortunate incidents that accompanied some of the celebrations. Multiple reports (from reliable media sources such as Enab Baladi, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, and Al-Arabiya) documented the killing of between two and three people (including a child) and the wounding of between five and nine others by random gunfire in the cities of Hasakah, Qamishli, Amuda, and Al-Malikiyah, resulting from the irresponsible use of unlicensed weapons during the night of the celebration on March 20-21, 2026. The cities of Qamishli and Hasakah also witnessed security tensions represented by the storming of headquarters belonging to the Internal Security Forces (affiliated with the Syrian Ministry of Interior) in Qamishli, during which some vehicles were vandalized and Syrian flags were taken down. Similar attempts were made in Hasakah, as a reaction to previous incidents in Kobani (Ayn al-Arab) where a young man was arrested after taking down the Syrian flag during the celebration, and reactions in Afrin that included the taking down of Kurdish flags and local attacks. These incidents remind us of the urgent need to control weapons and enforce the rule of law to ensure everyone’s safety and guarantee that national celebrations remain a source of joy, not tragedy.
The Syrian Future Movement affirms its deep pride in Syria’s diversity and pluralism, which are its true strength and the secret to its resilience. It believes that preserving and strengthening this diversity requires everyone’s commitment to the principles of equal citizenship, the rule of law, and building democratic civil state institutions that guarantee rights for all without exclusion or discrimination, while integrating all forces and agencies within a unified national framework.
The Syrian Future Movement hopes that Nowruz 2026 will inspire all Syrians to work together towards a prosperous future, one of peace, justice, and freedom, restoring Syria’s glory as a cradle of civilizations and a beacon of tolerance, and strengthening ties with neighboring countries and the international community within the framework of respect for international rights and standards.
Happy Nowruz to our Syrian people! May every Nowruz bring forth flowers of hope in the sky of a free, united, and independent homeland.
