Call to hold a Kurdish National Conference, confront hate speech

A century after the Treaty of Lausanne, which laid the foundation for the division of Kurdistan, the Kurdish people in Rojava are today facing an existential threat as a result of international and regional agreements for which peoples have historically paid the price. Amid what is being described as a second international conspiracy against the Kurdish people, calls are intensifying to unify Kurdish ranks in order to confront the dangers of the current phase.

In this context, Munir Sheikh, spokesperson for the Rojava Kurdistan Intellectuals Union (HRRK), emphasized the need to convene a comprehensive Kurdish national conference to draw up a joint political roadmap and protect the gains of the Kurdish people in Rojava and the region.

In a statement to ANHA agency, Sheikh noted that “after the fall of the Assad regime in Syria a year ago, it became clear that there were international conspiracies targeting the region following the rise of extremist jihadist groups to power in Syria.”

Sheikh explained that prior to the internal war that erupted in Syria in 2011, the Kurdish political movement possessed no tangible achievements on the ground and had only limited political demands. He added: “However, after the recent talks between the Rojava Administration and the interim government in Damascus, it became evident to the entire world that the Kurds possess an extensive political, administrative, and military organization, as well as a distinct geography of their own. This has made the Kurds a fundamental force on the ground.”

He continued: “Today, the region is passing through a sensitive period more than one hundred years after the Treaty of Lausanne, and it is set to witness new transformations. As is well known, the Kurdish people play a fundamental role in the region due to their political projects, intellectual vision, strong political organization, and years-long fight against terrorism. Therefore, the status of the Kurds in this century will not be the same as before.”

He affirmed that, on this basis, discussions were held with the Syrian Democratic Forces, which insisted on maintaining their unity and refusing dissolution in order to join the Syrian army. He said: “After the massacres committed against Syrian components such as the Druze and Alawites, the Kurdish people have become more committed than ever to retaining their arms. They do not trust the interim government with its hardline jihadist background, despite its attempts to disarm the Kurds, which have failed.”

Sheikh pointed to what he described as Turkey’s negative role in Syrian affairs, asserting that Turkey refused to implement the March 10 agreement and began attacks on the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods in Aleppo after reaching an understanding with Israel in Paris over spheres of influence in Syria.

He added: “The conspiracy aimed to eliminate the Kurdish people and commit large-scale massacres against them.” He noted that following the declaration of general mobilization, the Kurdish people in Rojava, across Kurdistan, and around the world rose up and demonstrated their position toward the conspiracy with strong determination. He stressed that the Kurdish people are no longer as they once were and cannot be deceived, calling for vigilance against schemes and against the interim government’s potential backtracking on its agreements, as had occurred previously.

He continued: “At this stage, the Kurdish people are at the height of their strength and are capable of determining their own future. In this new century, the Kurds will achieve new gains. The Kurdish people have proven that borders cannot divide them; they moved as one body with one will and one goal. The Kurdish mobilization over the past month in Kurdistan, especially in Europe, and Kurdish unity played a major role in confronting this phase and achieving significant success in this regard.”

He stressed the urgent need to convene a Kurdish national conference that includes all political forces and parties, youth and women’s movements, and intellectuals, and to establish a unified Kurdish reference body to work for Rojava, as well as to draft a program outlining the actions required at this stage for the Kurdish people.

He also emphasized that intellectuals in Rojava must highlight the truth, objectives, and culture of this people, and present the Kurdish cause as one of land and legitimate legal rights.

In conclusion, Munir Sheikh, spokesperson for the Rojava Kurdistan Intellectuals Union (HRRK), called on intellectuals to work to block hate speech and incitement, and to prevent attempts to ignite Arab–Kurdish civil strife in the region through a unified and inclusive discourse that guarantees the future of new generations. He stated: “The military forces defending Rojava must be supported in order to protect the achievements of the revolution.”

ANHA