Nadine Maenza: U.S. should give political recognition to AANES as answer for all of Syria

Maenza stressed that the U.S. government needs to adjust their strategy for Syria, as saying ''it is impossible to continue with the belief that the SOC shares U.S. values and can be the future for Syria''.

This came in an interview conducted by ANHA with Nadine Maenza, vice –chair of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, the USCIRF, in reference to the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria and breaches perpetrated by the Turkish Occupation Forces and the affiliated mercenary groups in the occupied areas of Syria. The interview went ad follows: 

You visited the northern and eastern regions of Syria earlier, how did you see the democratic experience in north eastern Syria?

Part of the reason I spent over a month in north and east Syria is because I wanted to better understand how this area could have such exceptional religious freedom conditions. I first heard about this project after being appointed to US Commission on International Religious Freedom, the USCIRF, in 2018. Seeing for myself how self-governance was started and then expanded throughout the Arab areas after they were liberated from ISIS was fascinating, especially how religious and ethnic diversity and gender equality is embedded in every level of government. This grassroots level democracy gives people a say in their own governance, practically unheard of in the Middle East.

Turkey alleges presence of Kurdistan workers Party, the PKK, in the regions of northern and eastern Syria, who you assess such an allegation?

It is ridiculous that Turkey uses the PKK as an excuse to invade and occupy parts of Syria. While Turkey calls all residents of northeast Syria “terrorists,” they are the ones working with actual terrorists, former ISIS members that are now part of the Free Syrian Army in Afrin, Tel Abyad, Sere Kaniye, and other places they occupy. They are committing atrocities against religious and ethnic minorities and women, as documented by many organizations including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Genocide Watch, and even by the United Nations in a special report released in September. USCIRF documented these conditions at our Congressional hearing in June of 2020.

We were told that after the visit, you participated in many meetings. How were the reactions about the report that you presented in your meetings and what was the content?

Since I have returned from Syria, I have had the opportunity to brief several Members of Congress and their staffs, officials at the State Department, and speak at multiple events. I have shared about my meetings with various civic and religious leaders and government officials, how AANES is structured, and conditions for Christians, Yazidis, and other religious components. I also have shared the stories I collected from residents about their lives before ISIS invaded, while the ISIS caliphate was established in parts of the region, and how their lives are now under the AANES.

I have been most surprised at how little people know about the remarkable governance in northeast Syria. I even spoke with one official who was unaware that this governance has held up after Turkey invaded. While the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and how they beat ISIS is well known and respected, it seems that many people are just now learning about the important governance that has been built as the AANES. In USCIRF’s annual report last April, we recommended that the U.S. government increase engagement with the AANES. We are encouraged to see that happening more now, which will help change the perception that there is only a military in northeast Syria.

Turkey commits war crimes on a daily basis in the areas it occupies in Syria, especially against Yezidis people in Afrin and other areas. Are there new promises from the United States of America regarding the protection of minorities and religions who are exposed to attacks in the region?

Another reason I visited northeast Syria was to draw attention to the crimes happening in the areas Turkey has invaded and occupies in Syria, especially against Yazidis, Christians, Kurds, and women. For some reason, the U.S. and the international community prefers to pretend this is not happening, but it is time to consider the actual facts and realities.

U.S. has long supported the Turkish backed Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) as the answer to the Assad regime. While I was in Syria, the President of SOC Nasr al-Hariri visited Afrin and praised the religious freedom conditions there. Just following that incident, a photo emerged of al-Hariri leading a SOC meeting with Hatem Abu Shaqra at the table. Shaqra was present when Hevrin Khalef was brutally murdered. With this new information, the U.S. government needs to adjust their strategy for Syria, as it is impossible to continue with the belief that the SOC shares U.S. values and can be the future for Syria.

Finally, in your opinion can the democratic nation project in north and east Syria be a solution to the Syrian crisis?

AANES is the only successful government in Syria, governing one-third of the country. How can it possibly be excluded from being a part of the political solution to the Syrian crisis? USCIRF has recommended that the US government demand the inclusion of AANES in all activities pursuant to UN Res 2254, including talks in Geneva.

AANES has the best religious freedom and gender equality conditions in the Middle East, which also helps explain why it has so many enemies. As USCIRF has recommended, the U.S. government should give political recognition to AANES as a local, legitimate government. While there may not be a clear answer for all of Syria quite yet, there is a clear answer for northeast Syria and that would be the AANES.

L.A.

ANHA