The Syrian Future Movement and the Syrian Kurdish Issue

Under both the father and son Assad regimes, Syria was replete with numerous injustices, foremost among them being the “injustice towards the Kurdish component.” Let’s quickly highlight some of the main images for this injustice:

1. Many Kurds were denied Syrian citizenship, being considered as “unregistered”, with a red-colored identity.
2. Kurdish names were not allowed to be registered in official state departments.
3. Kurds were not permitted to celebrate their own festivals, and Kurdish heritage was erased, such as the Newroz festival.
4. Kurds were not allowed promotions within the Syrian military ranks, starting from the “corner” rank.
5. The Kurdish language was opposed and not considered an official language.

Given this, it’s no surprise that Syrian Kurds were among the first to rise against the Assad regime in 2011. Their modern history in Syria is replete with multiple uprisings, notably the events of Qamishli in 2004, the protests in 2005 following the assassination of Sheikh Ma’shouq Al-Khaznawi, and more. The Kurdish community suffered severe deprivation of their political, social, and even human rights. The Syrian Future Movement strives to address this and prevent such oppressions against any Syrian group, especially the Kurdish component.

A Realistic View:
After the Syrian revolution and the entry of ISIS, the international coalition, Turks, Russians, and Iranians:
There’s no doubt that the Syrian scene, especially, has become complicated. The negative influence of foreign countries on the Syrian issue, generally, is evident. Our research and studies department under the Syrian Future Movement has presented an extensive research paper explaining the Kurdish situation, titled: “An Objective Reading of the Relationship between SDF and the Political Opposition.”

It became essential for the Kurdish component to unify its various factions, for the sake of Syria primarily and for the growth of the Kurdish component specifically. This ensures their sacrifices aren’t lost amidst the various international crossroads and the regional axes influencing the Syrian file according to their narrow viewpoints.

We can say that the Syrian Future Movement can play a pivotal role in this matter. Its role can be summarized in three levels:
First Level: Internal Relations through the following:

• The Syrian Future Movement is a cornerstone of Syrian politics inside Syria, outside the regime’s control. It represents the Arab side or some of it, as well as the Kurdish side or a portion of it.
• The movement has healthy communication with all components of the Syrian people internally and has respectable popularity within the revolutionary base in northern and southern Syria, reaching the heart of Sweida.
• The movement has a national political vision on one hand and a moderate religious perspective on the other, making it highly regarded within the Syrian populace.

Second Level: Relationship with the diverse Syrian opposition, which the Syrian Future Movement has acquired due to several factors:

• Representing religious moderation, political nationalism, and methodological democracy.
• Good relations with all Syrian factions, despite their differences, based on respect and cooperation.
• Financial integrity and intellectual and administrative independence in all its senses.

Third Level: International Relations, which made the Syrian Future Movement a friendly Syrian party to the international community as a whole. It has official recognition in America and effective communication with all American parties, politically and otherwise, which has been beneficial for Syria and its people over the past decade.

Moreover, the Syrian Future Movement has strong friendship ties with Europeans and Turks at all political and security levels.

Based on all that has been mentioned, we in the Syrian Future Movement believe that the relationship with “Erbil” will add a geopolitical depth on one hand, and will offer our friends in Erbil a true Syrian extension both domestically and internationally.

Conclusion:
There is no doubt that the Syrian situation, especially concerning the Kurdish issue, is quite complex and intriguing. This is especially true after the recent tribal movements in the eastern region, which could be a clear indication of the need to establish a robust social contract that ensures the rights of all Syrian components. We look forward to Erbil playing an active role in promoting this. With the Syrian Future Movement’s healthy relationships with the Syrian interior, the Syrian opposition on one hand, and the Americans on the other, it lays the groundwork for two things:
First: The pivotal and precise role of the Syrian Future Movement in solving major Syrian issues, especially the Kurdish issue, which we in the Syrian Future Movement perceive and understand its importance.
Second: The need for those interested in the Syrian matter in general, and the Kurdish issue in particular, to recognize the importance of the role and position played by the Syrian Future Movement.

For this reason, we highly value any coordination and cooperation with our brethren in Erbil that serves the interests of our two countries, and our Kurdish people in particular.

Dr. Zaher Ihssan Baadarani
Presidency office
Article
Syrian Future Movement (SFM)