A circulating video clip from a local folk festival in northern Syria shows a popular singer named Mamdouh al-Jabbouri performing a song that includes an explicit call for the slaughter of Kurds. This scene reflects a dangerous escalation in ethnically motivated hate speech, occurring amidst a clear absence of intervention or accountability by the interim authorities.
According to the circulated footage, Al-Jabbouri repeated the phrase: “By God, oh Kurds, we shall slaughter you,” during the performance. This constitutes direct incitement to violence and physical liquidation against a specific ethnic group. The utilization of folk arts as a medium to disseminate hate speech and threats is a grave violation of human rights principles, particularly when it involves public calls for violence.
This incident occurs against the backdrop of a marked surge in hate speech in northern Syria, coinciding with increasing violations against Kurdish civilians within a fragile security environment characterized by weak law enforcement and a lack of accountability.
Documented reports indicate that the Kurdish population in the town of Ain Issa, in the Raqqa Governorate, has been subjected to an organized campaign of threats and assaults by armed tribesmen who have shifted their allegiance to the interim authority in Damascus.
Furthermore, the “Rights Monitor Platform” has documented a dangerous escalation in ethnically motivated violations against Kurds in northern Syria. These include physical assaults, destruction of property, public incitement, restrictions on freedom of movement, and the targeting of cultural symbols.
These facts reflect a disturbing pattern of escalating hate speech and nationalist incitement. The apparent absence or negligence of law enforcement agencies threatens to exacerbate violations and undermines civil peace in the region.
Based on the aforementioned:
Measures must be taken to prevent the dissemination of content containing hate speech and racial incitement across various platforms.
The continuation of these violations without accountability fosters an environment of impunity and increases the likelihood of a descent into further identity-based violence. This necessitates urgent intervention by relevant authorities to protect civilians and safeguard their fundamental rights.
