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Kurdish Perspective on Recent Developments in Syria: A Deepening Struggle for Recognition and Survival

According to recent pro-Kurdish ANF reports, the Turkish state, under the guise of combating the PKK, continues its hostility toward Kurds in Syria, particularly in Rojava (North and East Syria), while supporting Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its repressive policies. This narrative underscores a broader Kurdish perspective that views the latest developments in Syria as part of a systematic effort to marginalize and suppress their aspirations for autonomy and recognition. The fall of the Ba'ath regime and the rise of HTS, backed by Turkey, have intensified fears among Kurds of further displacement, violence, and denial of their rights.

From the Kurdish standpoint, Turkey's role in Syria is not merely geopolitical maneuvering but a deliberate attempt to erase Kurdish identity and political presence. The Turkish government's support for HTS, evident in its swift recognition of HTS's interim constitution and government, is seen as a direct threat to Kurdish democratic achievements in Rojava. These achievements, as highlighted in the ANF report, include the establishment of Rojava's administration, led by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the People's Protection Units (YPG), which represents one of the most democratic and progressive systems in the Middle East. This system manages governance through local councils and maintains an open society. Despite this, Turkey labels these groups as terrorist entities, using the PKK's designation as a terrorist organization as a pretext to target all Kurdish political and military structures, even though the SDF and YPG have been pivotal in the international coalition's fight against ISIS since 2014.

The plight of displaced Kurds from Afrin and other regions of Syria exemplifies the ethnic cleansing policies attributed to Turkey and its proxy militias. Despite promises from HTS leader Ahmad Shara to facilitate returns to Afrin, the Kurdish population remains barred from their homes due to ongoing insecurity perpetuated by Turkish-backed factions. The Kurdish narrative questions why, if the Syrian National Army (SNA) has supposedly integrated into the Syrian army under HTS, attacks on areas like the Tishrin Dam continue. This contradiction fuels the belief that Turkey maintains control over these militias to destabilize Kurdish regions, undermining any potential ceasefire agreements, such as the one signed between the SDF and HTS on 10 March.

Moreover, recent HTS attacks on Druze communities are perceived by Kurds as a precursor to broader ethnic and sectarian violence that could engulf them next. The Turkish state's alleged involvement through its intelligence agency (MIT) in orchestrating these attacks via HTS signals a dangerous intent to sow chaos across Syria, targeting diverse communities to prevent any unified opposition to its influence. For Kurds, these assaults are a stark reminder of Turkey's 'game-spoiling' strategy, as articulated by President Erdoğan, aimed at disrupting any regional order that might accommodate Kurdish autonomy or alliances. These potential alliances include ties with Israel or the international coalition, which could provide the Kurds with much-needed support and recognition.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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