Jazira Canton
| Jazira Canton | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| One of three de facto autonomous cantons of the region of Rojava in Syria | |||
| |||
  Al-Qamishli | |||
| Coordinates (Al-Qamishli): 37°03′00″N 41°13′00″E / 37.05°N 41.216667°ECoordinates: 37°03′00″N 41°13′00″E / 37.05°N 41.216667°E | |||
| Country |
 Syria | ||
| Governorate | Al Hasakah | ||
| Autonomy declared | January 21, 2014 | ||
| Administrative center | Al-Qamishli | ||
| Government | |||
| • Prime Minister | Akram Hesso | ||
| • Co-Vice President | Elizabeth Gawrie | ||
| • Co-Vice President | Hussein Taza Al Azam | ||
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) | ||
| Area code | +963 52 | ||
| Official languages | Kurdish, Arabic and Syriac-Aramaic | ||
(For a more detailed map, see Cities and towns during the Syrian Civil War)
Jazira Canton (Kurdish: Kantona Cizîrê, Arabic: مقاطعة الجزيرة, Syriac: ܟܢܛܢ ܓܨܪܛܐ Canton Gozarto) is the largest of three cantons of the de facto autonomous Kurdish region of Rojava in Northern Syria. As part of the ongoing Rojava campaign, its democratic autonomy was officially declared on 21 January 2014.[1]
According to the constitution, the city of Al-Qamishli is the administrative center of Jazira Canton.[2] However, as parts of Al-Qamishli remain under the control of Syrian government forces, meetings of the autonomous canton's administration take place in the nearby city of Amuda.[1] Other important cities and towns in the canton are Hesîçe (Al-Hasakah), Serêkaniyê (Ras al-Ayn), Dêrika Hemko (Al-Malikiyah), Dirbêsiyê (Al-Darbasiyah) and Tirbespiyê (al-Qahtaniya).
Jazira Canton's population is composed of Kurds, Arabs, Assyrians-Syriacs, Armenians and Yazidis. While Kurdish, Arabic and Syriac-Aramaic are official languages, all communities have the right to teach and be taught in their native language. Religions practiced in the canton are Islam, Christianity and Yazidism.[2] Between 20-30% of the people of the canton are Christians of various churches and denominations.[3]
All four main ethnic communities (Kurds, Arabs, Armenians and Assyrians/Syriacs) are represented in the 101-seat Legislative Assembly.[4] The current prime minister (sometimes referred to as president) of Jazira Canton is the Kurdish Akram Hesso with Arab Hussein Taza Al Azam and Assyrian Elizabeth Gawrie as deputy prime ministers (sometimes referred to as vice-presidents).[5]
Security is maintained by the PYD-affiliated Asayish and its Assyrian/Syriac counterpart, the Sutoro, which is affiliated with the Syriac Union Party (SUP). Syrian government forces only control a number of demarcated neighborhoods.[6]
Geography
Cities and towns
- Al-Qamishli – part of the city, the other part is under government control
- Al-Hasakah – part of the city
- Ras al-Ayn
- Al-Malikiyah
- Amuda
- Al-Darbasiyah
- Al-Qahtaniyah, al-Hasakah Governorate
Administration
There are people's councils but it is unclear how they relate to the transitional government.
Economy
The canton's economy is based on agriculture and oil.[7]
See also
External links
References
- 1 2 "Al-Qamishli to be capital city of Jazeera Canton in Syrian Kurdistan". Firat News. 26 January 2014.
- 1 2 "The Constitution of the Rojava Cantons". Personal Website of Mutlu Civiroglu.
- ↑ http://www.acaps.org/reports/download/al_hasakeh_governorate_profile_february_2014/76/syria
- ↑ "Declaration of democratic autonomy in Cizîre canton".
- ↑ Karlos Zurutuza (28 October 2014). "Democracy is “Radical” in Northern Syria". Inter Press Service.
- ↑ Carl Drott (6 March 2014). "A Christian militia splits in Al-Qamishli". Carnegie Endowment.
- ↑ "“Poor in means but rich in spirit”". Ecology or Catastrophe. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
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