RONÎDA HACÎ

Hasakah-About 30,000 Armenian families are estimated to live in North and East Syria. Most of these families are those who fled from the Armenian Genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire in 1915. Since the revolution that started in North and East Syria on July 19,2012, Armenians living in the region have participated in all facets of life, including military and politics. The Assembly of the Armenian Community in North and East Syria held its first congress on July 20, 2024.

NuJINHA spoke to Arev Qasabiyan, member of the Assembly of Armenian Community in North and East Syria, about the congress. “As Armenians, we exist and we will always exist with our identity,” she told us.

‘The assembly is an opportunity to get to know ourselves’

“The congress was held in a very sensitive period and was a successful congress,” Arev Qasabiyan said. “In 1915, the Ottoman Empire committed a genocide against Armenians, killing and displacing thousands. In North and East Syria, there are many Muslim and Christian Armenians. The Assembly of the Armenian Community was formed after the revolution in Rojava. This assembly is an opportunity for Armenians to get to know themselves, unite and organize themselves to preserve their culture and language. As Armenians, we exist and we will always exist with our identity.”

 ‘We have a common life thanks to the philosophy of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan’

Genocidal plans against the Armenian people have been ongoing since 1915, said Arev Qasabiyan. “Our enemy in the past and present is the same. The Ottoman Empire massacred the Armenian people in 1915. Now, the Turkish state kills Armenians to revive the Ottoman Empire. Armenians were subjected to genocidal attacks and displacement in Afrin and Serêkanîyê (Ras al-Ayn). We must be aware of the plans of the enemy in order to prevent them from achieving their goals. Thanks to the philosophy of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, we have a common life, preserving our culture and language. We have already formed our defense forces to protect ourselves against all kinds of attacks. This is a successful step. The system based on democracy in northeastern Syria is a role model for the whole world and gives opportunities to all people for preserving their identity and existence.”

‘Armenian women lead their people’

Speaking about the role of Armenian women in their community, she said, “Armenian women lead their people to organize themselves. Armenian women have been waging a resistance not only in North and East Syria but also in Karabakh. Armenian women will avenge their children, their grandparents, and rebuild a life for the Armenian community with its identity, culture and history. The aim of the congress was to show that we exist and we will always exist.”