VIDEO: Kurdish cultural museum in Rojava hopes to attract international visitors

The owner of a Kurdish cultural heritage museum in Syrian Kurdistan’s (Rojava) Qamishlo says he hopes to one day open his doors to visitors from around the world.
kurdistan24.net

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The owner of a Kurdish cultural heritage museum in Syrian Kurdistan’s (Rojava) Qamishlo says he hopes to one day open his doors to visitors from around the world.

Over 1,060 Kurdish artifacts and antiques have a home at the Sehid “Martyr” Ferhad Museum of Cultural Heritage in Qamishlo.

The museum is named after Ferhad Sabri, a Kurdish martyr captured and beaten by the Syrian regime before being thrown into a prison where he died.

April 10 marks his death date where the museum opens annually for three days in his memory. Due to Turkey’s January offensive into Afrin, the museum was not opened this year.

Ahmad Sabri, the owner of the museum, has collected artifacts from all parts of the Greater Kurdistan and has kept them in this museum.

“I have gathered things from all over Rojava. I have even gathered things from Turkey,” he told Kurdistan 24. “Whatever antiques I find, I keep. Most people in their thirties who visit the museum say they have never seen such antiques.”

Ahmad has been gathering these artifacts for 24 years. He began in 1994 and continues to collect and purchase antiquities today. He says he wants to increase the size of his museum as his collection grows.

“Whatever unit I find—at whatever price—I will purchase it. I plan on extending this museum. As long as I am alive, I will continue doing this work,” he said.

Some of the artifacts at the museum are older than 3,000 years.

There are no museums in Rojava to keep these old Kurdish artifacts, some of which are older than 3,000 years.

Ahmad says he wants his museum to become internationally recognized and attract visitors from all over the world.

(Kurdistan 24 correspondent Dilovan Chato contributed to this report)