Solidarity with the Kurdish People
The Transitional Government in Damascus, dominated by members of the former al-Qaida affiliate Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), is once again using violence to consolidate control over all of Syria. This has initiated a new war of choice that threatens to return the country to the darkest days of its civil war and poses a serious threat to international stability. The campaign is being coordinated by the jihadist regime in Damascus in conjunction with Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The Turkish state is playing an active role in the conflict, employing fighter jets, drones, and reconnaissance aircraft, and has reportedly deployed its own soldiers to fight alongside jihadist forces.
By contrast, since their fight against ISIS, the Kurds in Syria have consistently expressed openness to dialogue with the Syrian government. They have never sought the division or secession of Syria, instead advocating for inclusion within a decentralised Syrian state.
The clear objective of the war of annihilation against the Kurds is to hand Syria over from the Baath dictatorship to the HTS dictatorship following the international recognition of Al Jolani (jihadist nom de guerre of Ahmed al Sharaa) as a statesman. Al Jolani’s vision for the new Syria does not include democracy or peace between nations. Women will continue to be treated as slaves. In opposition to this dictatorial concept of power, the Kurds have established a political and administrative self-government over the last 15 years, enabling women, nations and religions to express themselves freely. Therefore, there should be no place for the Kurds in Syria under Al Jolani. Genocide is once again being imposed on the Kurds to this end. Once again, the states in the international coalition against IS have demonstrated their hypocrisy. When their own interests are at stake, they not only forget their values, they also disregard international law.
Demands:
In this context, silence constitutes complicity. Through their inaction, the international coalition and the European Union have betrayed both their stated values and the Kurdish people. This silence has enabled policies of ethnic cleansing and risks paving the way toward genocide against Kurds in Syria. For these reasons, we call for:
- Immediate sanctions on the Syrian Transitional Government and condemnation from the international community.
- Immediate sanctions on Turkey for its role in attacks against Kurds in Syria and condemnation from the international community. .
- The EU to politically and legally recognise DAANES, compelling Damascus to accept a decentralised solution that guarantees the existence and rights of Alawites, Druze, Yezidis, Assyrians, Armenians, and all ethnic and religious communities in a future democratic Syria.
- The European Commission to withhold the €620 million in aid until the al-Sharaa government meets clear standards for de-escalation, democracy, and peace.
- The EU to establish an independent commission to ensure accountability for all individuals implicated in crimes against civilians, including those responsible for shelling hospitals and residential areas.
Finally: A democratic Syria could lead to stability in the region, and the first step should be the legal and political recognitions of DAANES. This would also help end the Turkish government’s policy of escalation and violence against the Kurdish people. The establishment of democracy through DAANES, following the heroic struggle for liberation against the global threat of ISIS, is the only guarantee for the liberation of all people in Syria, especially women.
