First opposition detainee released following renewed efforts for political unity in NE Syria

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Kurdish security forces (Asayesh) in northeast Syria announced Friday the release of a Kurdish opposition member detained last month for allegedly colluding with "external parties" to endanger the region. The opposition has welcomed the move, but continues to dispute the grounds of his detention. 

“As per the initiative launched by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to resolve issues between the Kurdish National Council and the Autonomous Administration and build trust between them, we declare the release of Suud Mizar Issa from Ghanamiya village in Darbasiya town,” said Ali Hassan, spokesperson for the Asayesh in a televised statement. 

The Kurdish National Council (ENKS) member was detained on November 11 for being “involved in some actions against the security of the region along with external parties,” the spokesperson claimed, adding that they have documentary evidence and a testimony from the detainee that prove his involvement.

Hassan Ramzi is a member of the ENKS. He told Rudaw from Qamishli that the party welcomes the move, but maintains their newly released member is innocent. 

“The detention of the member of the Kurdish National Council from the rise of Syrian crisis and the emergence of the PYD as the ruler of Syrian Kurdistan, have been due to their political activities and views,” he said, referring to the ruling Democratic Union Party (PYD).

The PYD and opposition ENKS have been in dispute for years. However, Turkey’s launch of Operation Peace Spring against Kurdish-led forces in northern Syria in October has encouraged Kurdish parties in Rojava to reengage in serious efforts to build unity.

The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (NES) on Tuesday announced it would allow the ENKS to reopen offices in northeast Syria – shut down by the ruling authorities in 2016 - without requiring NES permission.

It will also drop all legal cases against ENKS members, and form a committee to investigate opposition claims that its members are being held in NES prisons for political reasons.

The NES has said there are no ENKS political prisoners in Rojava. However, the ENKS has submitted a list of ten of members they claim are being held in NES prisons. The NES agreed to form a committee to investigate the fate of these prisoners.

The ENKS welcomed the NES’s initiative for unity on Friday, saying it is ready to work “seriously” for unity of Kurds.

The NES decision was also welcomed by citizens of the Kurdish-populated city of Qamishli in northeast Syria, an area known by Kurds as Rojava.

In the past, the opposition party has refused to recognize the administration in Rojava, accusing it of being unwilling to share power. It chose not to follow some NES procedures for opening political offices, resulting in the 2016 crackdown. In the wake of NES’ Tuesday announcement, the ENKS will not have no longer have to follow these procedures and can openly engage in political activity.

The Movement for a Democratic Society (TEV-DEM), an umbrella group for the ruling PYD and its allies, struck a number of power-sharing agreements with ENKS in Kurdistan Region’s Duhok province between 2014 and 2016, but none of the agreements were implemented. The two sides were locked in disagreement, blaming one another for failing to honor the agreements.