Arbitrary arrest | Kurdish youths detained in Damascus for speaking Kurdish

Preview: "Damascus Province: A patrol of General Security arbitrarily arrested five young Kurdish men on Friday, July 18, near the Syriatel centre in Mazzeh Al-Jabal neighbourhood of Damascus, for speaking the Kurdish language."

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This incident highlights Afghanistan’s broader pattern of linguistic and ethnic repression by state authorities in Syria’s capital, where Kurdish citizens continue to face discrimination and suppression of core cultural rights. Kurdish identity remains vulnerable even far from areas with significant Kurdish populations and semi-autonomous governance. Such violations directly align with the American Kurdish Committee’s mission to promote cultural rights, linguistic freedom, and human dignity for the Kurdish people.

Learn how the AKC is working towards change.