Talks between Martyrs’ Families Council and Interim Government on unified martyrs’ file

Informed sources told ANHA Agency that meetings were held over the past period between representatives of the Council of Martyrs’ Families in North and East Syria and officials from the interim government. These meetings come within the framework of implementing the provisions of the January 29 agreement between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the government, particularly on the integration file.

According to the sources, the meetings addressed preliminary issues related to mechanisms of joint work between both sides, without reaching final results or decisive decisions so far. Discussions focused on the possibility of forming a unified body concerned with the martyrs’ families file at the Syrian level, ensuring their needs, including financial compensation, healthcare, and education for martyrs’ children.

The two sides also discussed the future administrative structure of the Martyrs’ Families Council, including the possibility of linking it to the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, or provincial offices affiliated with the interim government.

Sources indicated that the interim government proposed establishing two central offices for martyrs at the Syrian level—one in Aleppo and another in Damascus—with the Martyrs’ Families Council in North and East Syria to be linked to one of these offices. However, this proposal has not yet received full consensus among participating parties.

A source from the Martyrs’ Families Council confirmed the reported information without going into details, explaining that the interim government has officially requested lists and archives of martyrs from North and East Syria. The council is currently working toward activating a special directorate for martyrs’ families in Hasakah province.

The source noted that the lists under preparation will include martyrs from all components, in addition to Kurdish martyrs, as well as martyrs of the Kurdish uprising from all four parts, and international fighters who participated alongside local people in the revolution, including the 2004 Qamishlo events.

The source emphasized that the Council of Martyrs’ Families in North and East Syria is committed to preserving the gains achieved over recent years and insists on fundamental rights for the families of martyrs and war wounded.

Further meetings are expected to continue between both sides to reach final formulas regarding this issue.

The Deputy Minister of Defense for the Eastern Region in the interim government, Siban Hamo (Samir Osso), stated in a previous response that the file of martyrs and wounded of the Syrian Democratic Forces is currently under organizational and legal discussions aimed at establishing a formal framework to handle it within state institutions. He noted that meetings have been held with the Council of Martyrs’ Families and War Wounded, as well as meetings in Damascus, resulting in preliminary understandings on several points.

Hamo explained that the wounded will be treated as “war wounded in Syria” under special standards and laws, ensuring access to available health and social services, with continued development of support and care mechanisms.

On martyrs’ families, he indicated that two approaches will be adopted, distinguishing between families of married and unmarried martyrs, and organizing the file within an official framework through specialized directorates in Syrian provinces, including a planned directorate in Hasakah, with the possibility of extending the model to other provinces.

He confirmed that the ultimate goal is to integrate this file into a comprehensive national system, treating martyrs as “Syrian martyrs,” issuing official state documents, while the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor will manage families of martyrs through specialized directorates, and the Ministry of Defense will oversee the wounded file.

ANHA