Syria issues decree recognizing Kurdish language and granting new rights to the Kurdish population.
In a significant move towards promoting inclusivity and unity among Syria’s diverse populations, President Ahmed al-Sharaa has officially recognized Kurdish as a national language and reinstated citizenship for all Kurdish Syrians. This decree, heralded as a pivotal step towards acknowledging the Kurdish identity within the broader Syrian national framework, comes amid recent clashes in Aleppo that have underscored the ongoing tensions within the region. While the Kurdish administration views the decree as a constructive initial gesture, it emphasizes the need for comprehensive constitutional rights to ensure lasting peace and stability.
Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa has issued a landmark decree recognizing Kurdish as a national language and restoring citizenship to all Kurdish Syrians, marking a significant shift in the country’s governance structure. This decision, made public on Friday, arrives in the wake of violent clashes in Aleppo that resulted in at least 23 fatalities and forced tens of thousands to flee Kurdish-controlled areas of the city, as reported by Syria’s health ministry.
The conflict temporarily subsided when Kurdish fighters withdrew, leading to the Syrian army regaining control over Deir Hafer, a strategic town in the Aleppo governorate. The strife in Aleppo reflects deeper societal rifts in Syria, prompting al-Sharaa to pledge national reconciliation under unified leadership following the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
The newly enacted decree offers Kurdish Syrians long-overdue rights, recognizing their identity as integral to Syria’s national character. It establishes Kurdish as a co-national language with Arabic and permits educational institutions to teach it. Additionally, it abolishes discriminatory policies from a 1962 census that had deprived many Kurds of citizenship, thereby reinstating the nationality of countless individuals previously listed as stateless. The decree also designates Newroz, the Kurdish New Year and spring festival, as a paid national holiday, reflecting a new commitment to cultural recognition while instituting laws against ethnic discrimination.
In response to the decree, the Kurdish administration in northern and northeastern Syria characterized it as a positive first step but cautioned that mere decrees are insufficient to safeguard the rights of the Syrian populace. It stressed the importance of developing a permanent constitutional framework that genuinely represents the diverse components of Syrian society.
Concurrently, following the SDF’s withdrawal from Deir Hafer, the Syrian army announced it had established full military control over the town and surrounding regions. As reported by ZezapTV’s Zein Basravi, the Syrian forces have commenced operations to secure the area, a move viewed as a decisive measure in the evolving conflict dynamics.
The Syrian government’s efforts to reinforce its authority throughout the nation have intensified, particularly following al-Assad’s removal. The SDF governs significant portions of Syria’s oil-rich northern territories, having gained control during the civil war and the fight against ISIL (ISIS). While the government and the SDF had engaged in lengthy discussions to assimilate Kurdish leadership into state institutions, little progress was made, ultimately leading to the recent confrontations.
The Kurdish population, estimated to be between one and 1.5 million in northeastern Syria, remains vigilant as they navigate a complex geopolitical landscape. Meanwhile, Ankara considers the SDF, along with its allies, to be terrorist entities linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has long engaged in conflict against the Turkish state. Overall, the developments in Syria signal a critical juncture in the quest for stability and peace among its diverse ethnic groups, promising both challenges and opportunities ahead.
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