“The constitution is a mockery for us Kurds, Alawites, and other minorities,” said Akif Hassan, a Kurdish politician from northeastern Syria (Rojava). Speaking at a panel hosted by Rudaw in Cologne, Hassan joined other Kurdish political figures to discuss the community’s future in post-war Syria.
Signed in mid-March by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, the constitution is based on Islamic jurisprudence, requires the president to be Muslim, and places extraordinary power in the hands of the president for a five-year transition period. It also retains the country’s name as the Syrian Arab Republic, further alienating non-Arab communities.
Concerns over extremist roots of Syria’s new rulers
Several speakers linked the new Syrian leadership to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (ISIS), and accused them of long-standing hostility toward Kurds.
Mehmet Tanriverdi, co-leader of the Kurdish Community in Germany, described the new rulers as “al-Qaeda militants” and accused them of fighting Kurds with Turkey’s backing.
Seyran Papo, a Kurdish Christian Democratic Union (CDU) lawmaker in Schleswig-Holstein, said her party considers the new authorities in Damascus to be made up of “extremists who were previously ISIS.”
Hassan echoed these concerns, saying, "We dreamed of a day like this - freeing Syria from Assad. But replacing one form of oppression with another will not lead to a better future."
Syrian President Sharaa and his group have Islamist roots, as an extension of the Islamic State of Iraq and an affiliate of al-Qaeda. As interim leader of Syria, he has promised to protect minorities, but many people inside and outside the country are worried.
Call for Kurdish unity, European support
The panelists said Kurds must be united in the face of threats. Rojava’s relationship with Damascus is uncertain and Turkish-backed armed groups continue their assault on Tishreen Dam.
Kasim Tahir Salih, a Green Party member of the German parliament, warned that without a unified Kurdish stance, securing international support would be difficult. "It is crucial for us Kurds to speak with one voice," he said.
Germany’s role in Syria was also highlighted. Salih pointed to two recent visits by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and urged Kurdish politicians to ensure Rojava remains on Berlin’s agenda.
Jian Omar, a Kurdish member of the Berlin state parliament from the Green Party, urged Kurds not to passively wait for their rights to be granted. “We must claim our rights from Damascus while maintaining pressure on Europe,” he said.
Omar praised Baerbock’s March visit to Damascus, calling his remarks “unprecedented” after she directly called on Syrian authorities to include Kurds in governance and protect their rights in the constitution.
Omar also referenced the recent opening of the German embassy in Damascus, saying one of its objectives is to increase Germany’s influence in Syria and apply pressure on the government regarding Kurdish issues.
During Syria’s civil conflict, Kurds in the northeast carved out an area of control where they sought to redress some of the historic wrongs committed by the former regime against the Kurdish population, including the right to citizenship and education in their mother tongue.
Kurdish demands from Damascus
Hassan outlined the Kurdish community’s core demands, emphasizing that identity and cultural rights must be guaranteed.
“Our identity and cultural rights must be enshrined in the constitution. The security of our region must be explicitly recognized. Our security forces and police must be Kurdish,” he stated.
The panelists agreed that the Kurds of Rojava must be integrated into Syria’s political structure, with their national and cultural rights protected.
Mazloum Abdi, the general commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Rojava’s de facto army, has signed an agreement with Damascus to integrate the armed forces and Rojava’s institutions into the new government. How that deal will be integrated remains to be seen.
The panel discussion took place ahead of Newroz celebrations in Cologne. Speaking on the significance of the festival and one of the largest gatherings of the Kurdish diaspora in Europe, Hassan said, “This widespread participation reflects the deep frustration of the Kurdish people. We are not a passive nation that blindly accepts whatever is imposed upon us.”
