Members of the North Rhine-Westphalia State Parliament in Germany discussed Syria’s social structure. During the discussions, the necessity of protecting human rights, strengthening integration, and respecting pluralism based on a decentralized system was highlighted.
One of the parliamentary blocs, the German Green Party, held a meeting on December 12 titled “Syrians in North Rhine-Westphalia: Between Exile and a New Beginning – Human Rights Under Threat.” The meeting took place in the state parliament building with the participation of German parliamentarians and Syrian activists in Germany.
The meeting addressed the state of social structures in Syria following the fall of the Baath regime and the transitional government’s violations against Alawites, Assyrians, Kurds, Druze, and other communities.
Lemya Kadur, a Green Party member of parliament originally from Syria, said, “The Syrian Transitional Government must act cautiously and abandon its sectarian approach. Appointments to Syrian state institutions should be based on merit, not religious or sectarian ties.”
The meeting also highlighted the role of North Rhine-Westphalia, where approximately 374,000 Syrians live. It was noted that the impact of political developments in Syria on the daily lives of Syrian refugees, particularly in the areas of housing, integration, and civic participation, must be monitored.
German parliamentarian Max Lucks stated that Germany had been slow to take serious steps regarding Syria and that intervention to protect human rights had been necessary from the outset of the violence in Suwayda. “Syria’s diversity is a source of strength that should be built upon. A clear German strategy to advance democracy and human rights must be developed,” Lucks said.
Participants stated that issues concerning the rights of Syrian communities should be high on the agenda of European delegations’ contacts with the Syrian transitional government. They called for support for independent journalism to document violations. They also emphasized the need to monitor the impact of Germany’s policies on the lives of Syrians living in the state.
Participants stated that a decentralized system was the most suitable option for Syria.