Political parties and organisations in the North and East Syria Region issued a written statement today condemning the sectarian attacks targeting the Alawite community, as well as the assaults and repression taking place in other parts of Syria.
The statement expressed concern over the recent events in Alawite areas and the escalating tension in the city of Homs. The statement added that armed groups affiliated with the Syrian Interim Government have been destroying shops, setting homes on fire, intimidating residents and forcibly expelling people from their houses in Alawite neighbourhoods of Homs. According to witnesses, government forces intervened not to protect civilians but to facilitate the actions of these groups and provide them with cover.
The statement noted that, in response to the call made by Sheikh Hezal Hezal, the head of the Alawite Islamic Council, peaceful demonstrations were held yesterday in many Alawite areas to condemn the dangerous sectarian attacks and to demand federalism for Syria. However, forces affiliated with the Syrian Interim Government opened fire on demonstrators in several locations, resulting in deaths and injuries.
The political movements and parties said that Syrian Interim Government President Ahmad Al-Shara’s claim that these peaceful demonstrations were “organised by foreign powers” merely repeated the rhetoric of the former regime. They recalled that the old regime labelled those who demanded freedom in Syria as “agents” or “conspirators.” This discourse, they stressed, can never rebuild Syria, and it proves that the Interim Government is no different from the former regime.
The statement said that through its actions over the past months, the Syrian Interim Government has excluded all Syrian communities and demonstrated that it has no intention of preserving the pluralism that constitutes Syria’s true strength and beauty. It also stressed that the Interim Government shows no difference from the former regime in its violence against civilians, sectarian rhetoric and purges against its own partners.
The political parties of North and East Syria continued: “We condemn the sectarian attacks and repression carried out against the Alawite community, as well as the assaults taking place in the south, north, east or any region of Syria.
We affirm our solidarity with the Alawite community against forced displacement, identity-based killings and sectarian persecution.
We call for the swift and fair prosecution of all those involved in, facilitating or covering up these crimes, whether armed groups or security forces.
We firmly reject all sectarian hate speech, violence or forced displacement, regardless of who commits it, and we emphasize that Syria can only be rebuilt on the basis of freedom and equality among all communities.
They stated that the only real and fundamental solution to the Syrian crisis is a comprehensive political process prepared with the participation of democratic political forces and representing all Syrian communities (Kurdish, Arab, Alawite, Christian, Druze, Syriac, Assyrian, Turkmen and others).
They emphasised that this constitution must be built on the foundations of democracy and decentralisation, and must guarantee the rights of everyone.
The statement called on the international community, the United Nations and the Arab League to fulfil their legal and moral responsibilities by protecting Syrian civilians, stopping the repression and exerting the necessary pressure to initiate a genuine political process.
Syria cannot be rebuilt through weapons, forced displacement or sectarian hate speech. Syria can only be reconstructed through justice, equality and the genuine participation of all its communities.”
Parties that signed the statement
The statement was issued by the following parties and organisations:
* Democratic Union Party (PYD)
* Kongra Star
* Democratic Society Movement (TEV-DEM)
* Kurdistan National Congress (KNK)
* Green Democratic Party
* Kurdistan Democratic Peace Party
* Syrian Kurdish Liberal Party
* Kurdistan Communist Party
* Syrian Kurdistan Democratic Party
* Syrian Kurdish Democratic Party
* Syrian Kurdish Left Party
* Syrian Kurdish Democratic Left Party
* Future Syria Party
* Kurdistan Democratic Change Party
* New Movement of Syrian Kurdistan
* Kurdistan Workers’ Union (YKK)
* Arab National Commission
* Syrian Innovative and Democratic Party
* Syrian Kurdish Democratic Reconciliation Party
* Syrian Reform Party
* Assyrian Democratic Party
* Kurdistan Unity Party (PBK)
* Syrian Democratic Sun Party
* Conservative Party
* Democratic Struggle Party
* Kurdistan Future Front
* Kurdistan Democratic Party of Rojava Kurdistan
* Democratic Change Party
* Syriac Union Party
* Kurdistan National Unity Party
* Syrian Kurdish Democratic Unity Party (Yekitî)
* Syrian Revolutionary Left Movement
* Democratic Syria Party
* Syrian National Homeland Party