Several members of the French National Assembly issued a joint declaration drawing attention to the attacks targeting the Rojava model in Northern and Eastern Syria and calling on the international community to take action. The parliamentarians stated that the democratic confederal system enables the peoples of the region to live together equally and freely and said that Turkey must recognise Abdullah Öcalan’s “right to hope” within the framework of international law.
The declaration read: “We, members of the French National Assembly, express our full and unconditional support for the peoples living in the Rojava region in northern and eastern Syria. The model in which women play a central role and which is governed according to the principles of democratic confederalism presents a system where different ethnic, religious and cultural communities (Kurds, Arabs, Assyrians, Yazidis, Christians etc.) are able to live together in harmony.
However, since 2012, this communalist model has been continuously subjected to attacks and threats. On the one hand, the new Syrian regime led by Ahmed al-Sharaa (Al-Jolani), who once gained legitimacy from “Western” powers for overthrowing the bloody dictator Bashar al-Assad, yet today turns a blind eye to the massacres of ethnic and religious minorities, including Alawites, Druze and Christians has deepened repressive policies especially targeting women: discrimination, exclusion from social life, and the imposition of compulsory dress codes.
On the other hand, until very recently, Turkey continued to bomb the Autonomous Administration of Northern and Eastern Syria. Despite the will to lay down arms expressed by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) following Öcalan’s call from Imrali Prison, no concrete democratic solution has been achieved to this day, nor has any progress been made to guarantee the democratic experience in Rojava.
For the peace process to truly advance, Turkey must comply with international legal norms and recognise Öcalan’s “right to hope.” The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled on 9 July 2013 that the complete elimination of the possibility of conditional release violates human dignity and breaches Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). According to this, every prisoner has the right to know the date on which their situation will be reviewed.
For the peoples of Rojava, the model of democratic confederalism is the essential way to protect their existence and collective life. The freedom of Öcalan, who is regarded as the leader of the Kurds is an indispensable precondition for the advancement of the peace negotiations initiated between Turkey and the Kurds. Öcalan, who has been in prison for twenty-six years, and all political prisoners must be treated under humane conditions in accordance with international conventions.
France, Europe, and the world owe a historical debt to the Kurdish people and especially Kurdish women, due to their decisive role in the defeat of ISIS. The People’s Protection Units (YPG) and Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) paid heavy prices, saved thousands of civilians, liberated vast territories from ISIS, and assumed responsibility for the administration of these lands.
As French parliamentarians, we demand that France take the necessary steps to assume responsibility for French ISIS members and their families who are still held in camps under the control of the Autonomous Administration of Northern and Eastern Syria, and at the very least, ensure the return of women and children. In addition, we demand that support for the Al-Jolani regime be brought to an end, and that Turkey accept a lasting ceasefire in Rojava and fulfil its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights.
The struggle of the oppressed peoples in Syria, and of the Kurdish people, is our struggle as well; today and tomorrow we will continue to be part of it.”
Signatories:
* Mathilde Panot, Chair of the La France Insoumise (LFI) Group
* Emmanuel Fernandes (LFI)
* Nadège Abomangoli, Vice-President of the National Assembly
* Clémence Guettê, Vice-President of the National Assembly
* Thomas Portes, Chair of the Working Group on Kurds
* Anaïs Belouassa-Cherify (LFI)
* Christophe Bex (LFI)
* Carlos Martens Bilongo (LFI)
* Pierre-Yves Cadalent (LFI)
* Gabrielle Cathala (LFI)
* Hadrien Clouet (LFI)
* Jean-François Coulomme (LFI)
* Sylvie Ferrer (LFI)
* Arnaud Le Gall (LFI)
* Muriel Lepvraud (LFI)
* René Pilato (LFI)
* Aurélien Tache (LFI)
* Paul Molac, Liberties, Independents, Overseas and Territories Group (LIOT)
* Danielle Simonnet, Economic, Social and Environmental Council (EcoS)
* Elsa Faucillon, Democratic and Republican Left Group (GDR)