Damascus - The Zahr al-Hanoun center for Palestinian women and heritage, which aims at training and rehabilitating Palestinian women on cultural and political levels and preserving Palestinian heritage, was opened on Saturday in Yarmouk Camp in Damascus.
Chairman of Hamas Politburo Khaled Mashaal said that the struggle with Israeli occupation is a struggle for man, sanctities, culture, history and identity, stressing that the occupation is attempting to steal Palestinian heritage.
He noted that Zahr al-Hanoun (a local name for the red Anemone coronaria flower) is part of the Palestinian people's memory and plays a role in binding the Palestinian people to their heritage, identity and history, all of which will form the basis for the battle for liberation, restoring rights and affirming identity.
In turn, Director of the General Administration for Palestinian Arab Refugees Ali Mustafa said that preserving Palestinian heritage is one of the main bases of adhering to the Palestinian refugees' right to return to their homelands, affirming that the Palestinian people are committed to their national rights.
He also lauded the role of Palestinian refugees in supporting the center that work to preserve Palestinian heritage, underling Syria's support to the Palestinian people and their just cause.
Director of the Center Sawsan Kerdiye said that the Center will work to rehabilitate Palestinian women and develop their skills in various fields, particularly protecting Palestinian heritage, stressing the need to improve the social, cultural, scientific and athletic levels of Palestinian women.
She pointed out that the Center contains five sections specializing in sewing, embroidery, sports, development and childcare, providing 200 job opportunities for women.
© SANA (Syria Arab News Agency) 2011
