DAA: Rights are protected through permanent constitutions, not temporary decrees

The Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria affirmed, regarding what is known as Presidential Decree No. /13/, that rights are not safeguarded by temporary decrees, but are protected and entrenched through permanent constitutions. It stressed that a comprehensive national dialogue and a democratic, decentralized constitution guaranteeing genuine partnership among all Syrians constitute the fundamental solution to the issue of rights and freedoms in Syria.

17 January, 2026 11:48

NEWSDESK

The Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria issued a statement to public opinion today concerning what is known as Presidential Decree No. /13/.

The statement reads as follows:

“We in the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria have followed the decree issued by Mr. Ahmad al-Sharaa, head of the interim government in Syria, concerning the rights of the Kurdish people in Syria. In this context, the Autonomous Administration affirms that rights are not safeguarded by temporary decrees, but are protected and entrenched through permanent constitutions that express the will of all peoples and components.

The issuance of any decree, regardless of its intentions, cannot constitute a real guarantee for the rights of Syrian components unless it is part of a comprehensive constitutional framework that recognizes and safeguards the rights of all without exception. From this standpoint, we in the Autonomous Administration emphasize, as clearly stated in the Social Contract of the Autonomous Administration, the necessity of drafting a pluralistic democratic constitution that protects, safeguards, and preserves the rights of all Syrian components, societies, and beliefs, considering this diversity a source of Syria’s strength and its true beauty.

While we view this decree as a possible first step, it does not meet the aspirations and hopes of the Syrian people, who have made immense sacrifices and waged a genuine revolution to obtain their legitimate rights and to build a democratic state in which all enjoy a free and dignified life based on justice and equality.

The Autonomous Administration reaffirms once again that the fundamental solution to the issue of rights and freedoms in Syria lies in a comprehensive national dialogue and in a democratic, decentralized constitution that guarantees genuine partnership among all Syrians and lays the foundations for a state of citizenship and social justice.”

A-H

ANHA