ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Saturday received a delegation of the Kurdish community on the occasion of Newroz and Eid al-Fitr, as Syria's Kurds mark their first nationally recognized Kurdish New Year.

Newroz was officially declared a nationwide paid public holiday in a January presidential decree by Sharaa, among several other linguistic and cultural provisions, coming amid months of unrest and tensions between Kurdish-led forces in Rojava (northeast Syria) and Damascus-affiliated forces.

The interim leader of Syria described Newroz as "a national holiday that reflects the uniqueness of the Kurdish community" and emphasized that "guaranteeing the rights of the Kurdish community is an inherent right and that cultural diversity in Syria represents a source of strength," according to a Syrian presidency statement on Sunday.

The meeting was also attended by the governors of Aleppo, Raqqa, and Hasaka, and Sharaa's envoy to follow up on the implementation of a January 29 integration agreement with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Despite Syria's official recognition of Newroz, celebrating the spring occasion still carries grave risk for Syria's Kurds. Footage spread on social media on Saturday showing Kurds celebrating Newroz in Afrin and Aleppo subjected to physical assault, and Kurdish flags confiscated and burned.

Sharaa's January decree also recognized Kurdish as a national language that may be taught in public and private schools in Kurdish-populated areas, abolishing the effects of the controversial 1962 census in Hasakah province and granting Syrian nationality to previously stateless Kurds.

The decree, however, has not been enshrined in Syria's new transitional constitution.

Syria's Deputy Minister of Defense for the Eastern Region Sipan Hemo, a Kurd, said Saturday that anyone insulting the Syrian flag or attacking Kurds and Kurdish symbolism will be held accountable.