Popular demands for establishing  democratic system in Syria

The Syrian arena is witnessing heightened interactions among various components of the Syrian population during a pivotal phase accompanied by vital discussions about the future of the country’s political and constitutional system. 

While the transitional government persists in adhering to a centralized system, popular demands are escalating for the adoption of a decentralized approach that ensures the representation and empowerment of diverse components, enabling them to manage their regions independently, free from exclusion and dependency.

Ibrahim Khalil, Co-President of the Council of Martyrs’ Families of Afrin and Al-Shahba, residing in the city of Tabqa, emphasized that “the tragedies and massacres caused by the previous regime continue to cast a shadow over the Syrian reality, and the mentality of exclusion and centralized governance persists even after the transitional government assumed power, posing a genuine threat to the country’s future.”

Khalil urged the transitional government to commit to implementing the March 10 agreement concluded with the Syrian Democratic Forces and to translate it into action on the ground, as it represents the sole guarantee for achieving security, stability, freedom, and democracy. He further stressed the necessity of adopting a decentralized governance system as a radical solution that guarantees the rights of all components and sects through a democratic constitution that endorses free and fair elections under international supervision, thereby ending the mentality of exclusion and dictatorship that persists to this day.

Similarly, Arif Saido, one of the displaced persons from Afrin and Al-Shahba, noted that Syria is undergoing a critical phase that requires rebuilding a modern democratic system to address the root causes of the crisis, which have been exacerbated by the individualistic state mentality.

 He added that the Syrian people have suffered for decades from marginalization, racism, and exclusion, emphasizing the importance of learning from past experiences and advancing toward a decentralized, participatory democratic nation system as the only alternative to the statist system that marginalized societal forces and reduced citizens to mere tools subject to an authoritarian central authority.

Saido also called for drafting a participatory democratic constitution that ensures the inclusion of all components in governing the country, fostering a genuine sense of belonging among Syrians to their homeland and its political and sovereign institutions. This, he argued, would contribute to building a unified state that addresses past issues and lays the foundation for a better future for all.

 In the same context, Maryam Al-Abd, a resident of Tabqa , expressed the determination of women in NE Syria to ensure that the construction of a new Syria begins with a democratic constitution that recognizes the rights of all components and acknowledges the right to Democratic Autonomous Administration.

Al-Abd underscored the importance of women securing their rightful place in society and actively participating in decision-making processes, with the necessity of including explicit constitutional guarantees to protect women from all forms of violence and discrimination.

She concluded by stating, “Women are not demanding special privileges but rather just rights based on equality. A comprehensive democratic constitution is the true guarantee for building a free society that respects women’s dignity and human rights.”

a.k

ANHA