We, members of Kurdish poeple from different cities in Rojava, address you through this call out to preserve the dignity, history, and identity of our cities.

The name Kobanê has become more than a geographic designation; it stands today as a symbol of resilience and the sacrifices made by the people of the city in the face of terrorism, and it is widely recognized both nationally and internationally. From this perspective, we call for rejecting the name Ain-Alarab and officially affirming the name Kobanê, which represents an important moral and civic step that contributes to social stability, reflects the will of the city’s residents, and supports the spirit of understanding prevailing during this sensitive period.

We further believe that the issue of affirming the city’s name should be addressed within a broader framework concerning the correction of Arabized city, town, and village names that were changed during previous periods, in a way that reflects their historical reality and cultural diversity. This includes restoring original names such as Al-Qahtaniyah (Tirbespî), Al-Malikiyah (Dêrik), Al-Jawadiyah (Çil Axa), and Al-Ya‘rubiyah (Til Koçer), Ras-AlAin (Serê Kaniyê), Tal-Abyad (Girê Spî) in addition to other towns and villages whose names were similarly altered, within an approach that promotes recognition of Kurdish identity and preserves the local historical memory.

We believe that addressing these matters in a spirit of responsibility and mutual understanding will serve the future of our next generations in the region.

With sincere respect,

Signatories:

Members of civil society from different cities of Rojava.