Farhan Haj Issa: July 19 Revolution defends Kurdish Identity

On the 14th anniversary of the July 19 Revolution, ANHA Agency interviewed Farhan Haj Issa, Co-Chair of the Executive Council of the Democratic Autonomous Administration in Kobani. He said the revolution established a democratic project based on pluralism and coexistence and offered a solution to the Syrian crisis away from military conflict.

He emphasized that any process of integration with Damascus must safeguard Kurdish rights and ensure that the gains and rights of the Autonomous Administration are enshrined in Syria's new constitution.

"July 19 Is a Revolution of Existence, Language, and Culture Against Oppression"

Farhan Haj Issa congratulated the Kurdish people across the four parts of Kurdistan on the 14th anniversary of the July 19 Revolution and paid tribute to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the region's security and stability. He described the revolution as one of existence, language, and culture in the face of oppression.

He explained that the July 19 Revolution began at a time when the Middle East was facing severe crises caused by dictatorial mentalities and policies of repression, starvation, and marginalization. According to him, the revolution became a project to defend identity, language, culture, and women's rights.

Haj Issa said that while the Syrian uprising, which initially called for the fall of the Baath regime, evolved into proxy conflicts and regional and international interventions that fragmented Syrian society and fueled civil and sectarian war, the Autonomous Administration adopted the "Third Line" approach from the outset. This approach, he said, rejected polarization and armed conflict in favor of freedom, democracy, legitimate rights, and dialogue, while promoting a democratic project that replaces the language of violence with peace.

He added that the Autonomous Administration's project embraced the diverse communities of North and East Syria and developed into a genuine expression of the region's peoples, becoming a political and social model based on partnership among its components and a platform for learning and development despite military attacks and other challenges.

He stated that the Autonomous Administration faced media campaigns and military offensives aimed at discrediting and eliminating it, particularly the attacks carried out by ISIS mercenaries against Kobani. However, he said the historic resistance of Kobani's women and men defeated ISIS and ultimately drove the group from its last strongholds in Deir ez-Zor.

"They tried to erase the identity of the Kurdish people through attacks that began in Girê Spî in 2013 and culminated in the assault on Kobani on September 15, 2014, with the aim of destroying the experience of freedom and suffocating the peoples of the region. Instead, they encountered a resistance that resonated around the world," he said.

Haj Issa added that November 1, recognized as World Kobani Day, became one of the lasting values of the July 19 Revolution, through which Kobani introduced the world to its resilient and resistant people.

New Phase and the Challenges After the Fall of the Baath Regime

Speaking about the current period following the fall of the Baath regime, Haj Issa said: "The political developments following the fall of the Baath regime have ushered in a new phase. The region is experiencing major security and political changes, including massacres against Druze and Alawite communities, attacks targeting Kurdish areas, and attempts to eradicate the Kurdish people. To address these challenges, several agreements have been signed, most notably the March 10, 2025 agreement between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the interim government, as well as the January 18 and January 29, 2026 agreements."

He stressed that "the foundation of these agreements should be the renewal of the values of the July 19 Revolution, and that any integration process must respect the distinct identity of the Kurdish people while preserving the achievements made over the past years. It is impossible to return to the pre-2011 era."

Commitment to the January 29 Agreement and Constitutional Guarantees

On the integration process, Farhan Haj Issa, Co-Chair of the Executive Council of the Autonomous Administration in Kobani, said: "The Autonomous Administration is committed to implementing the January 29 agreement, while emphasizing the need to enshrine the rights of the Kurdish people and the achievements of the Autonomous Administration in Syria's new constitution."

He described Decree No. 13, issued by interim government leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, as a positive step, but said it must be followed by a social contract and a permanent constitution that guarantees the rights of the Kurdish people.

"Under Baath rule, members of our people were killed simply for celebrating Nowruz. Today they are welcomed in Damascus, and our language, universities, and academic certificates have been recognized. This is a major step," he said.

He added: "We will follow this issue step by step within the Autonomous Administration and address outstanding issues through political dialogue and discussions."

Haj Issa also called for an end to hate speech and threats, recognition of Kurdish rights throughout Syria—including in Homs, Damascus, and Latakia—and ensuring those rights are protected in the country's permanent constitution.

Women and Lessons for the Future

Concluding the interview, Haj Issa said: "If the current authorities continue to operate with the mindset of the remnants of the Baath regime, they will inevitably fail. We are a people who will never retreat from our rights."

He praised the role of women in the Rojava Revolution, saying: "We are the people of the Women's Revolution, known for its military strength and continued struggle. Kurdish women are role models, like the women of Spain and France. They have demonstrated their capabilities in politics, diplomacy, organization, and culture, and there can be no retreat from their goals."

He renewed his commitment to following the path of the martyrs and working toward a future based on freedom and democracy for all Syrians, concluding: "We will preserve the values of those martyrs and continue along their path. In the end, victory will belong to all the people of Syria."

ANHA