Peregraf
The leadership of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has emphasized the need for Kurdish unity and the protection of Kurdish rights in West Kurdistan (Syrian Kurdistan) as Syria navigates a critical period of transformation.
Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani addressed the implications of the evolving Syrian situation in separate meetings with international officials.
Prime Minister Barzani met with Mohammed Hassan, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Iraq, to discuss the Syrian crisis, Erbil-Baghdad relations, and strategies to preserve regional stability. “We stressed the importance of respecting and protecting the rights of different communities in Syria, including the Kurdish people,” Barzani stated, highlighting the necessity of avoiding conflict and its regional repercussions.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Talabani engaged with the Czech Ambassador and the French Consul General to explore the Syrian crisis. “We called on the Kurdish people in West Kurdistan to work together to ensure and guarantee their rights in the new Syria,” Talabani emphasized.
Kurdish Situation in Syria
Syria's decade-long civil war, culminating in the weakening of Bashar al-Assad's regime, has drastically reshaped the nation's political and social dynamics. Syrian Kurdistan, or Rojava, has emerged as a significant player, with Kurdish-led forces establishing self-governance structures and playing a decisive role in combating ISIS.
Historically marginalized, Syria's Kurds have faced systemic discrimination and denial of cultural and political rights. The power vacuum during the civil war allowed Kurdish groups to assert greater autonomy, culminating in the creation of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES). However, this autonomy remains fragile, as Turkey opposes Kurdish self-rule and the Syrian opposition forces seek to reestablish control.
For the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, the future of Syrian Kurds is of strategic importance due to shared ethnic ties and concerns over regional stability. The KRG has consistently supported Kurdish rights within a unified Syria, urging dialogue and collaboration among Kurdish factions in Rojava.
Kurdish factions in Syria, however, continue to grapple with internal divisions, which many believe have hindered their ability to advocate effectively for their rights on the national stage.
On December 14, Mazloum Abdi, Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), emphasized the critical need for Kurdish unity in Syria, describing it as a “historical necessity” given the current regional challenges.
As Syria's future remains uncertain, international involvement, cohesive Kurdish leadership, and shifts in regional geopolitics will play pivotal roles in determining the outcome for the Kurdish population in West Kurdistan and beyond.