Diraqliya

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGKR7PZ0VDA

The documentary takes place in the village of Diriqliya in the Çiyayê Kurmênc (Afrin) region. Unlike typical historical accounts involving ancient lineages or ruins, the current narrative of Diriqliya focuses on modern industrial development and its economic centrality to the surrounding area. The village is home to a newly established, technologically advanced flour mill (aş) that serves as a focal point for local employment and regional food security.

The facility is managed by Şaban, who oversees a team of approximately 15 workers operating in 12-hour shifts to keep the mill running 24 hours a day. The mill has recently entered its production phase, currently processing about 40 tons of wheat, with plans to expand capacity by another 15 tons. The workforce connects Diriqliya to the broader region; for instance, a worker named Mehmûd identifies himself as a resident of the neighboring village of Qerqîna.

The social and physical structure of the village described in this account is defined by this multi-story industrial building. Mistefa, a technical lead, describes the vertical organization of the mill, referring to the different floors as "daq" (e.g., daqê sê, daqê du). The process involves sophisticated machinery for cleaning wheat, removing stones and metal via magnetic separators, and separating the product into fine flour, semolina (simîd), and bran (kepek). The distinct lack of mentioning ancient landmarks or shrines suggests the village's current reputation is heavily tied to this modern utility.

The reach of Diriqliya extends significantly across the Efrîn region. A customer interviewed at the site is a baker from Gundê Hisê, located roughly 35 kilometers away. He travels to Diriqliya to purchase four tons of flour daily, citing the superior cleanliness and quality of the product compared to other sources. The documentary concludes with a musical performance celebrating the Efrînî identity, referencing the region's agricultural abundance—specifically vineyards, figs, apples, and pomegranates—though these are lyrical tributes to the region rather than specific geographic features of the village itself.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz-343TNf-4

The village of Duraqliya, located in the Şera district of Efrîn, holds a strategic and historical position between the ancient sites of Keleha Sem‘anê and Keleha Hûrî. According to local elders like Fewzî, the village’s name likely stems from the Turkish word "Duraqli," functioning as a "stopping place" or station where travelers on the historical Silk Road would rest near water sources before continuing to Kilis. Others suggest a Greek origin for the name, implying "bravery." In the 1990s, during the rise of the Kurdish Freedom Movement, the village acquired the name Botan among locals due to its strong political engagement and the presence of cadres who established camps there.

The settlement history of Duraqliya begins with the migration of families from a nearby location known as Gelî Xirabe. Originally, these ancestors lived in caves known as Şikeftê Mala Kordê. The first settler to establish a house at the current village site was Îbrahîmê Cinciq, the patriarch of the Mala Cînciq family, who moved down to access better water sources and agricultural land. Today, the village is home to approximately 140 households comprising several distinct families. The largest families include Mala Cînciq, Mala Hesu, and Mala Qulîka, alongside smaller lineages such as Mala Mêmkê, Mala Qêsim, Mala Ebo, Mala Ereb, and Mala Çîçekle. The community is described as cohesive, with frequent intermarriage creating strong bonds between these groups.

The landscape around Duraqliya is defined by the Ava Efrînê (Afrin River), which flows through the nearby Deşta Berîsankê. The village was historically rich in water sources, utilizing wells like Bîra Tûyê, Bîra Şadiyê, and Bîra Qereqoçê, though some have dried up or become saline. Spiritual life in the village centers around specific landmarks, most notably Taka Reş (also called Takê Reş), a sacred valonia oak tree. For generations, residents visited this tree, particularly on Fridays, to tie fabrics to its branches and seek healing for illnesses. Another sacred site, Ziyareta Qereqoçê, is located near the village cemetery and a well of the same name.

In modern history, Duraqliya is renowned for its role in education and infrastructure within Rojava. It was the site of the first Kurdish-language school in the region, Dibistana Şehîd Fewzî, established on September 6, 2011, by teachers like Dicle and Mehmûd in the private home of a resident named Pîr Beşîr. Additionally, the village hosts a major industrial facility, Aşê Rûken, a large flour mill founded by Rûken and Fîraz Şêxo in 2013 to address bread shortages in the canton during the Syrian civil war.