Syria’s al-Sharaa signs decree protecting Kurds, declares Kurdish a ‘national language’
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa signed a decree late Friday aimed at safeguarding the rights of Kurds in Syria, including protections against ethnic and linguistic discrimination, amid renewed clashes between US-backed Kurdish forces and Damascus.
In a video posted on his X account, al-Sharaa addressed the Kurdish population directly, saying the decree, “to be safeguarded by the text of the law,” would guarantee their rights as equal citizens.
He also called on displaced Kurdish-Syrians to return to their towns and villages, saying there would be no preconditions other than laying down their weapons.
The full decree, published later, stipulates that Kurdish will be recognized as a “national language” in Syria and declares Nowruz a national holiday.
In addition, the decree calls for granting Syrian citizenship to Kurdish residents who were stripped of it under the controversial 1962 census. It also mandates that state institutions promote an inclusive national discourse and uphold equal rights for all communities.
The announcement comes as tensions persist in northern Syria, where clashes have flared between Kurdish forces and government troops despite ongoing international efforts to stabilize the region.
US military forces met with Kurdish partners in Syria’s Deir Hafer on Friday as part of Washington’s efforts to stabilize the area, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said. “A Syria at peace with itself is critical to preserving peace and stability across the region,” CENTCOM Spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins told Al Arabiya English.
SDF head Mazloum Abdi said on X on Friday that the group will withdraw their forces from east of Aleppo at 7 AM local time on Saturday and redeploy them to areas east of the Euphrates, citing calls from friendly countries and mediators.
