Hundreds of Kurdish residents have returned to Syria's Afrin district and publicly celebrated the spring festival of Nowruz for the first time in years, following their displacement during a Turkish-backed offensive in 2018. For many, including Abdul Rahman Omar, the celebration marked both a homecoming and a moment of newfound freedom after years in exile.

The returns come after a recent agreement between Kurdish-led forces and Syria's central government that placed formerly autonomous northeastern regions back under national control and facilitated the return of displaced families. Authorities also declared Nowruz a national holiday and recognized Kurdish as an official language alongside Arabic, signaling broader efforts to strengthen Kurdish rights.

Under the former government of Bashar Assad, Kurds faced longstanding marginalization and bans on public Nowruz celebrations. This year, residents in villages like al-Basouta lit torches and raised Kurdish flags openly, expressing joy at being able to celebrate their heritage without fear, even as many noted the absence of friends and neighbors who have yet to return.