"Transitional govt must adopt decentralization as political solution guaranteeing all components' rights"

On Thursday, the Democratic Islam Conference held a dialogue session to discuss the political developments in the region and the role which the democratic Islam can play in Syria's future.

Members of civil society organizations, along with the conference members, participated in the session, in which the leader Abdullah Ocalan's message and his political and religious vision for a future Syria were focused on.

The session began with standing a minute of silence. Then, the conference's co-chair, Sheikh Ammar al-Qadri, read Abdullah Ocalan's recent message to the Arab and Kurdish tribes in North and Eastern Syria, in addition to explaining the conference's political and religious vision, which included,

Supporting national reconciliation efforts based on truth, justice, and the recognition of all components' rights, via local committees that include representatives of all sects.

Promoting inter-sectarian and inter-faith dialogue through periodic forums attended by religious scholars from various sects.

Empowering women and ensuring their participation in political and social life in accordance with the principles of democratic Islam.

Preparing Sharia-compliant educational curricula that promote the values of justice, pluralism, consultation, and mercy, with a focus on the history of Syrian co-existence.

Involving  women and youth in awareness-raising and advocacy programs, ensuring their active role in decision-making and community initiatives.

Issuing reference materials and publications to promote the principles of democratic Islam and distributing them to civil, religious, and military institutions.

Monitoring the religious discourse and purifying it from racism and sectarianism, in addition to adopting a comprehensive national discourse.

Adopting a decentralized system that constitutionally guarantees the rights of all religious and social components in Syria.

In his intervention, the conference member, Mazen al-Harouni, explained that the Middle East is undergoing a pivotal phase of change. He pointed to the presence of international powers seeking to impose their policies on the region, considering that "the transitional government is exploiting some of the region's people by playing on religious sentiments to recruit them into the ranks of the Syrian army to fight their brothers."

Al-Harouni also criticized the Turkish policies in Syria, asserting that "the Turkish state seeks to impose an authoritarian religious model far from the values of co-existence and democracy." He added that "the dominant political Islam does not fulfill the aspirations of Syrians and is incompatible with a democratic future for Syria."

The way for discussion was opened to the attendees, and the session concluded with the participants unanimously agreeing on the need for the transitional government to establish decentralization as a political solution that guarantees the rights of all components and sects. They criticized its failure to adhere to the agreements signed with delegations from North and East Syria, and considered it to be exploiting religion to ignite sectarian conflicts rather than establishing the principles of co-existence.

J.J

ANHA