President al-Sharaa affirms safeguarding Kurdish rights

Syrian transitional president Ahmed al-Sharaa said that Nowruz is a national holiday that reflects the identity of Syria’s Kurdish community, stressing that safeguarding Kurdish rights is a fundamental right.

During a meeting with a Kurdish delegation on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr and Nowruz on March 21, al-Sharaa said the Syrian people are one and that Syria’s cultural diversity is a source of strength.

He also pointed to state support for development plans in eastern Syria during a session attended by the governors of Aleppo, Raqqa, and al-Hasakah (northeastern Syria), as well as the presidential envoy overseeing implementation of the January 29 agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Attendees praised Presidential Decree No. 13 of 2026, aimed at guaranteeing Kurdish rights in Syria, and stressed the importance of consolidating national unity, strengthening participation, and restricting arms to the state, according to statements published by the Syrian Presidency through its official platforms.

Al-Sharaa had issued Decree No. 13 on January 16, granting citizenship to all Syrian residents of Kurdish origin, including those previously unregistered.

The decree also repealed all exceptional laws and measures resulting from the 1962 al-Hasakah census.

It further declared Nowruz, celebrated by Kurds on March 21, a national holiday marking fraternity and spring, while recognizing a number of cultural rights for Kurds in Syria.

Committee to follow up on detainees and displaced people

Mahmoud Khalil, a leader in the Internal Security Forces affiliated with the SDF, the Asayish, said the meeting with al-Sharaa on March 21 resulted in the formation of a specialized committee to follow up on detainee files and the return of displaced people to Afrin (northern Aleppo countryside, northern Syria) and other Kurdish areas.

According to Khalil, the committee aims to establish clear mechanisms to address these issues and advance stability in the country.

He added that al-Sharaa stressed the need to implement all provisions of the January 29 agreement, describing them as a priority at the current stage.

Al-Hasakah governorate said through its official platforms that the meeting discussed development conditions and ways to improve services in eastern Syria, particularly in al-Hasakah.

Discussions focused on key projects, most notably diverting water from the Tigris River for drinking and agriculture, and reactivating the Allouk water station to secure drinking water for al-Hasakah city and its surroundings.

The meeting also addressed the education sector, with participants stressing its importance as a cornerstone of community building and development.

On March 19, al-Hasakah witnessed a new detainee exchange between the SDF and the Syrian government.

The exchange took place on the eve of Eid al-Fitr and included the release of 300 SDF fighters held by the Syrian government, in return for the release of a similar number of detainees from SDF prisons.

In recent months, the Syrian government and the SDF have taken several steps toward integration, including appointing SDF commander Sipan Hamo as assistant to the Syrian defense minister for the eastern region.

Some displaced Kurds have also returned to their areas, particularly in Afrin.

 

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