Syria’s Islamist leaders rejected Kurdish demands for a decentralized government system in a post-Assad political framework, deeming it a threat to national unity. In a statement issued on Sunday, Ahmed al-Sharaa’s office emphasized that any attempt to impose federalism or autonomy without national consensus would not be accepted.
“The unity of Syrian territory and its people is a red line,” the statement read.
Kurdish factions, including the dominant party in Syria’s northeast, met in Qamishli on Saturday, where they agreed on a political vision for Syria’s Kurdish minority. The meeting, attended by U.S. officials, called for a future Syrian constitution to recognize Kurdish national rights following the removal of President Bashar al-Assad.
The joint Kurdish statement outlined a desire for a decentralized, democratic state, aiming for a just resolution to the Kurdish issue in Syria. However, this vision clashes with recent deals made between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Damascus, which include merging Kurdish-led governing bodies and security forces with the central government.
Syria’s presidency criticized these Kurdish calls for federalism, stating that they contradicted the earlier agreement with the SDF.
Since the start of Syria’s civil war, Kurdish-led groups have controlled about a quarter of the country, including areas rich in oil and agricultural resources. Kurdish leaders have expressed frustration with the current political transition, accusing the Syrian Islamist leadership of failing to honor promises of inclusivity and respect for Syria’s diversity.
