Greetings from Afrin, Syria, where Kurds danced their hearts out to celebrate spring

Far-Flung Postcards is a weekly series in which NPR’s international correspondents share moments from their lives and work around the world.

With their red loafers and scarves and sashaying, it’s almost like these men, by linking their arms and dancing their hearts out, are able to briefly erase the horrors that happened here.

During Syria’s war, Afrin — a majority-Kurdish area in the north — suffered kidnappings by ISIS, airstrikes, sexual violence and torture.

I’d last visited Syria before all of that happened, and had never been to Afrin. So for me, this region with a dark past is now indelibly just these joyous scenes from when I finally did visit in March — of Kurdish people celebrating the springtime Nowruz festival with more fervor than in decades.

What you can’t see here are the sparkling turquoise waters of Maydanki Lake behind them and a patchwork of picnic blankets strewn with fresh flowers. What you can’t hear is ululating voices, drums and wooden flutes. What I hope you can sense, though, is resilience.

Many minority Kurds celebrated Nowruz in secret under the repressive rule of the Assad family, and fled during the war. Now they’re coming home — and dancing.

See more photos from Syria and around the world:

 

U.S. completes strikes on Iran nuclear sites, Trump says

The U.S. has completed attacks on three nuclear sites in Iran, President Trump wrote on Truth Social on Saturday.

At least three people dead from a tornado in North Dakota

At least three residents were killed in the Enderlin area by a tornado on Friday night after storms hit North Dakota and Minnesota.

One daughter’s search for a father detained by ICE

Francisco Urizar, 64, was detained by ICE while on his work route delivering tortillas. His daughter Nancy is trying to find out what happened to him.

Star bassist Carol Kaye rejects Rock & Roll Hall of Fame honor

One of the most in-demand session players of the 1960s, Kaye was listed alongside the late record producer Thom Bell and the late pianist Nicky Hopkins as inductees in the Musical Excellence category.

Pilot who died in N.C. plane crash tried to avoid a turtle on airport runway

The pilot of a small plane that crashed near an airport tried to avoid hitting a turtle on the runway, according to a National Transportation Safety Board report. The pilot and a passenger were killed.

Day after day, Palestinians in Gaza risk harrowing journey in desperate search for food

Israel has begun allowing food into Gaza. Most of the supplies go to GHF, which operates food distribution points. A trickle of aid goes to the U.N. and humanitarian groups. Both systems are mired in chaos.

More Front Page Coverage