The city of Kobani witnessed a large public march today, with hundreds of residents taking to the streets to reject any attempt to rename their city “Ayn al-Arab.” Participants carried banners and chanted slogans affirming their commitment to the name “Kobani,” describing it as a symbol of the city’s history, struggle, and resistance.
The march began in the city center and proceeded through the main streets. Demonstrators chanted slogans, including: “It is not Ayn al-Arab—it is Kobani, and it will always remain Kobani.” They also carried banners emphasizing the city’s historical identity and rejecting any alternative name.
Participants stressed that the name Kobani has become associated, in the memory of Syrians and the international community alike, with the “City of Resistance and Resilience,” referring to the city’s battle against ISIS in 2014, which became a global symbol of resistance against extremism.
The demonstrators also noted that the name “Ayn al-Islam” had been used by ISIS during its control of the area, while “Ayn al-Arab” is now being promoted as an alternative. They firmly rejected this change, describing it as an attempt to erase the collective identity of the city’s inhabitants.
During the concluding gathering, Khezna Mustafa delivered a statement on behalf of the residents, addressing what she described as “a policy of repression and the alteration of the identities of cities over the years.”
She stated:
“We, the people of Kobani, reject any attempt to change the name of our city. This name has been preserved through the blood and sacrifices of our people. We send a message to all relevant political authorities: we will never accept this name, and we will continue organizing peaceful marches until this decision is reversed.”
The statement called on the relevant authorities to respect the will of the local population and preserve the historical names that reflect the city’s legacy of struggle.
The march concluded with participants reaffirming their determination to continue peaceful public mobilization should efforts to change the city’s name persist. For the people of Kobani, the name of their city is far more than a geographical designation—it is an integral part of a collective memory shaped by sacrifice and resistance, and they remain determined to preserve it.
