Jurist: Recognizing Kurdish Language not enough without constitutional entrenchment

Following the issuance of Decree No. 13—which acknowledged granting Syrian citizenship to Kurds who had been stripped of their nationality in the 1962 census, while also providing cultural protections and recognizing Kurdish as a national language—many questions have emerged regarding whether the decree is sufficient to meet the aspirations of the Kurdish people in Syria.

These questions are particularly pressing in light of the absence of official recognition of Kurdish as an official language, despite tens of thousands of Kurds having received education in it, as well as the continued lack of constitutional recognition of the Kurdish people as an indigenous people living on their historical land.

Constitutional Recognition

In this context, ANHA Agency conducted an interview with jurist Hisên Biro, who pointed out that the decree issued by the interim government came to address shortcomings in the Syrian constitution.

He emphasized that the current constitution requires fundamental amendments, foremost among them recognition of the Kurdish presence as an indigenous people living on their historical land.

He explained that the decree came as a result of decades of injustice suffered by the Kurdish people over nearly seventy years. However, he described it as “a door, not a solution,” clarifying that the real remedy lies in achieving full constitutional recognition.

Official Language

On the Kurdish language, Biro noted that the decree recognized it as a national language, but did not rise to the level of constitutional recognition that would make it an official language of the country.

He stressed that Kurdish should be officially adopted in Kurdish-majority areas, and called for the language to be included in school curricula and taught in all Syrian provinces, including the capital, Damascus. He added that Kurdish should be treated as an official language alongside Arabic.

He explained that such a step would serve as a bridge for communication among the components of the Syrian people and would strengthen understanding and openness.

He also pointed out that Syria’s cultural and linguistic diversity is a source of richness that would enhance the country’s presence in international forums and help turn the page on a painful past.

Rights in the Constitution

On the necessity of safeguarding Kurdish rights, Biro affirmed that the decree does not amount to constitutional recognition.

He explained that a constitution represents the identity of the homeland and enshrines principles of diversity and mutual recognition, unlike decrees, which can be amended or repealed at any time.

He added that the decree can be described as a first step toward achieving constitutional recognition of the Kurdish people, their language, and their role in building the Syria of the future.

Observers believe that Decree No. 13 is an important step toward resolving issues that have remained unresolved for decades, but that it still requires completion through comprehensive constitutional reforms guaranteeing full recognition of the political and cultural rights of the Kurdish people.

They noted that the future sought by Syrians in general, and Kurds in particular, rests on a state founded on equal citizenship, respect for diversity, and the consolidation of genuine partnership among all its components.

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ANHA