Kongra Star External Relations Committee Spokesperson Emîne Osê said that any solution imposed without considering the current realities on the ground would fail to bring stability or security to Syria. Osê stated: “If the international community and regional actors truly want Syria to become a place of stability and security and not a threat to global security, then they must work together to establish a pluralistic and democratic system.”
Osê spoke to ANF in response to questions regarding the political situation in Syria.
After the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its affiliated groups, which until recently had been on the ‘terror list’ of many countries, rose to power in Damascus. How do you assess the overall situation in the country during this past year?
A year has passed since HTS took power. Although there was initial satisfaction with the departure of the Ba’ath Party, it soon became clear that nothing had fundamentally changed. Those who arrived claiming they would ‘save Syria’ turned their attention to the coastal areas. Everyone saw this with their own eyes. The crimes committed there are well known to all. And they did not stop there. They did the same in Sweida (Suwayda), drawing Arab tribes into it as well. In Sweida, they trampled on the dignity of the peoples of Syria. Committees were formed to investigate these crimes, but although the committee mentioned certain issues in a limited way, no serious accountability followed.
How have women in particular been affected during this transition period?
More than 80 women are still missing. Although women’s organisations and human rights groups are trying to take measures against these crimes, their efforts have not been enough to stop the abductions. There are no women in the government that was formed. Women are being pushed out of political life. There is no female representation in the ministries. Because the mindset they rely on does not accept women, this is the result that emerges. They do not consider women worthy of any rights. What is happening to women there is a message to all women around the world.
Parliamentary elections were held in October, but Sweida and North and East Syria were excluded. What legitimacy does this parliament have for the excluded regions, and especially for women?
The elections organised by the interim government were a theatre. It was a scenario designed to claim legitimacy. Just like their previous steps, this one was purely cosmetic. It was nothing more than an attempt to deceive public opinion. The law on which the election is based is itself undemocratic. This law stipulates that the President appoints half of the parliament. How can we speak of the people’s will under such conditions?
North and East Syria and Sweida were excluded from the elections. They tried to present themselves as having come to power through a vote, but they failed. If this had been a democratic election, the region would not be in its current state. Without an election in which women and 90 percent of the people participate, no one can speak of legitimacy. A government that does not derive its power from its people cannot find support among them. Without including women and all components of society, Syria cannot be rebuilt. This is the reality we see.
There must be bold and decisive steps in the social sphere. Lifting the rubble left behind by decades of war is only possible with strong economic programmes. Today, even travelling from one city to another remains a major problem in Syria. In a Syria where the Ba’ath regime ruled for 54 years, if the steps we are talking about are not taken, the country will struggle to recover.
Considering the attitudes, policies and practices of the interim government under HTS, what kind of future awaits women in Syria?
With the beginning of the Syrian revolution, the peoples of North and East Syria chose a democratic system and began administering their own lands. What enabled this system to survive for fourteen years without internal conflict was precisely this choice. The question of women was treated as the central pillar of democratisation in North and East Syria. All laws were drafted on the basis of women’s rights. Women were encouraged to organise and govern themselves; every path for this was opened. Another factor that kept North and East Syria standing was the strength of its defence. A strong defensive line was built against both internal and external attacks. Ignoring this experience, or attempting to dismantle it, does not serve Syria. It only pushes the country further into chaos. This mindset is extremely dangerous for Syria. There are ongoing attempts to create chaos in North and East Syria. It is clear that none of these attempts serve the people of Syria.
The system established by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, with its democratic and women-liberatory character, is fundamentally at odds with the current Syrian regime. How can these two opposing systems reach a form of agreement or integration?
Integration does not mean surrender. Integration means complementing one another within a framework of mutual respect. Ignoring or denying each other is not integration. It means struggling together for the development of Syria; it means working side by side to open the path toward a dignified and free life. If the international community and regional actors truly want Syria to become a place of stability and security, and not a threat to global security, then they must cooperate to transform Syria into a pluralistic and democratic system. Solutions imposed without taking the current situation of Syria into account will not bring peace or security. And this will not prevent Syria from becoming a threat to global stability.
The meetings held in the United States by Ahmed Al-Sharaa (Al-Jolani) and the accompanying delegation were also reflected in the media. What possible impacts could these meetings have on North and East Syria?
It was a step aimed at bringing Syria into international agreements and lifting the economic sanctions imposed on the country. I am not saying that the internal situation was not discussed, surely, Syria’s governance mechanism was also addressed. The first point I want to emphasise regarding the essence of these meetings is this: Syria’s governance structure must not be centralised. In a decentralised Syria, the integration of the defence forces into the national army was discussed. Economic issues such as oil and maritime trade were also brought to the table. So far, these discussions have remained at the level of dialogue. We believe these meetings must continue. North and East Syria should play a strong role in the government. When international powers reach the conclusion that the Syrian field does not pose a threat to their security, sanctions will gradually be lifted. I do not believe sanctions will be removed all at once or unconditionally. Syria must be rebuilt on democratic values. And the interim government must take serious steps in this direction. These steps require courage. If courageous steps are taken, I believe we will be able to build a democratic system together.
As 25 November approaches, what will be the main priorities and areas of struggle for women in North and East Syria this year?
We have ongoing preparations for 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Our struggle against violence is not limited to a single day or a single month, but symbolically, we will carry out specific actions and activities for 25 November. There will be meetings, and we will hold discussions with human rights organisations and institutions at the international level. All our institutions have finalised their programmes. Over the past year, Kongra Star has carried out important work once again on women’s issues. Preventing the abduction of women and eliminating tools of psychological warfare have been central points of our struggle. On the anniversary of 25 November, we call on all women in Syria to work together. We expect them to stand by their democratic demands. We must strengthen this struggle collectively.