Politicians: Syria must be democratic where all components obtain their rights

Amidst the ongoing debate surrounding the formation of the Syrian People's Assembly election committees and the political representation of various groups, 24 Kurdish parties condemned the attempt to perpetuate policies of marginalization against the Kurds through the mechanism for forming the Syrian People's Assembly. They emphasized that limiting Kurdish representation to only four seats circumvents demographic and political realities and paves the way for entrenching exclusion within Syrian state institutions in the future.

In this context, Kovan Keno, Secretary of the Roj Democratic Party, and Abdullilah Arabo, Head of the Political Parties Committee in Rojava, spoke to ANHA agency.

Kovan Keno reminded everyone that throughout the Syrian crisis, the Syrian people in general, including the Kurds, have made immense sacrifices, with the Kurdish people making the most sacrifices to secure their rights in the new Syrian constitution.

He added that after the fall of the Ba'ath regime, they, as Kurds and all components of Syrian society, wanted—and still want—to have a place and a voice in the new Syria. However, the issue of elections, from which they are largely excluded, has become prominent. For example, the Kurds were granted only 2% of the seats in the People's Assembly.

Kovan Keno emphasized that they demand seats in the People's Assembly that reflect the true size of the Kurdish population on the ground. He stated, "We want, through peaceful means, to draft a new constitution with a transitional government and the participation of representatives from all components of Syrian society."

He pointed out that they are calling for a decentralized and pluralistic Syria, one that is not defined by a single ethnicity, a single flag, or a single authority.

For his part, Abdullilah Arabo, head of the Political Parties Committee in Rojava, explained that the Kurdish people demand genuine representation in the Syrian People's Assembly, as well as in the Constitutional Committee, a demand that the interim government has failed to consider regarding the Assembly.

He added that the current appointments are illegitimate, stating, "The Kurdish people will not accept this, and therefore will continue their struggle for democracy."

Abdullilah Arabo emphasized that the Kurds must have a presence and representation on the committee drafting the new Syrian constitution, and their rights should not be marginalized within this committee either.

He concluded by saying, "It is essential that all ethnicities and communities in Syria—Druze, Alawites, Kurds, Syriacs, Assyrians, and Armenians—receive their rights in the constitution. Our demand is to build a democratic Syria where everyone lives in peace and security."

Sh-S

ANHA