Veteran politician calls for Kurdish rights to be enshrined in Syria’s constitution to prevent tension

A prominent Syrian Kurdish politician has called for the Kurdish community's rights to be enshrined in Syria's constitution to avert potential tensions. Ilham Ahmed, a veteran Kurdish leader and member of the Syrian parliament, warned that a shift towards a more centralized state could exacerbate divisions. The Kurdish community, the largest ethnic minority in Syria, has been actively engaged in the integration process with the Syrian military and government institutions.

While significant progress has been made, Ahmed emphasized that the role of women in political institutions and decision-making is regressing despite the integration efforts. She attributed this decline to the current integration phase being in a testing stage. Ahmed praised the recent presidential decree recognizing Kurdish identity, language, and cultural rights but noted that key aspects, such as the right to education in the Kurdish language, remain unfulfilled.

The decree, a result of a deal mediated by the U.S., France, and Turkey, aimed to end hostilities and establish a roadmap for Kurdish integration into state institutions. However, tensions have resurfaced in northeast Syria over the future of Kurdish-language education, with students protesting against restrictions imposed by the new government.

Ahmed challenged the negative perception of decentralization, arguing that it is often unfairly portrayed as a threat to Syria's territorial unity, and emphasized that embracing multiple languages can actually strengthen Syrian culture.