Session in Qamishlo calls for legal solution to "Arab Belt" issue

The Yek Bar Center for Culture and Art held a dialogue session entitled "The Arab Belt: From Injustice to Reparation," with the participation of human rights activists, representatives from the Syrian Democratic Council, the Democratic Gathering Party, and the Yazidi Foundation for Culture and Development, as well as members of civil society organizations and a number of affected landowners.

The session addressed three main axes; the first focused on the "Arab Belt" project and its historical background, while the second centered on possible legal and human rights solutions, and the third axis was dedicated to recommendations and proposals. The session was moderated by lawyer Ali Iskan.

In this context, Ali Iskan reviewed the details of the "Arab Belt" project, which was implemented between 1973 and 1976, explaining that it aimed to alter the demographic composition along the Syrian-Turkish border strip, extending from the city of Derik in the east to Serê Kaniyê in the west.

He pointed out that the project was implemented by seizing vast tracts of agricultural land belonging to Kurdish and Yazidi landowners, under the pretext of establishing "model projects," in addition to resettling approximately 40,000 people in the area, which at the time represented about 6 percent of the population of Hasaka Governorate.

During the session, the participants emphasized that Kurdish and Yazidi farmers and tribes were the most affected by the project, as their lands and properties were confiscated without compensation, along with legal and administrative procedures that contributed to their economic and cultural marginalization.

The attendees stressed that these policies have left a profound impact on the social fabric of the region, which contributed to creating tensions between different groups, as well as attempts to erase the cultural identity of the indigenous population.

The participants called for official recognition of the injustice suffered by those affected during the Ba'ath Party era, considering the restoration of rights and the legal resolution of the issue as essential steps for building trust and achieving justice.

They also urged the Transitional Government and the local administration in Hasaka to develop clear legal and rights-based solutions, whether through the return of lands to their original owners or the provision of fair compensation, preserving the rights of all parties and preventing the emergence of new grievances.

The participants affirmed that any sustainable solution in Syria must be based on recognizing the rights of all groups and peoples, guaranteeing their political and cultural participation, and implementing the principles of transitional justice and restoring rights to their rightful owners.

At the conclusion of the session, a set of recommendations was put forward, most notably the repeal of laws issued during the Ba'ath Party era related to the project, a review of Decree No. 13, the formation of a specialized legal and human rights body to follow up on the issue, the organization of human rights sessions and workshops, and the provision of legal guarantees to prevent the recurrence of exclusionary policies in the future.

ANHA