The European Union (EU) removed the jihadists al-Sharaa and HTS, previously listed as terrorist organizations, from its list after the fall of the Assad regime and supported them in establishing “state authority” across Syria.
The EU recently visited Damascus to provide open political and financial support for Sharaa and HTS’s massacre-driven policies. During the visit to Damascus by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council President Antonio Costa, attacks on Kurdish neighborhoods in Aleppo were continuing; massacres, war crimes, and ethnic cleansing were taking place under the coordination of the Turkish state. Despite this, EU officials announced after the meeting that they would provide maximum support to the Sharaa administration, pledging 620 million euros.
ANF asked von der Leyen and Costa whether they were aware that genocide attacks against Kurds and other ethnic groups were being carried out in North and East Syria despite their support for the Syrian Interim Government, and how they explained the support meeting they held. However, von der Leyen and Costa did not respond to our questions and limited themselves to sharing past official statements.
The democratic public in Europe strongly criticized these hypocritical and interest-driven policies carried out against Rojava by HTS in coordination with the Turkish state. Below, we share the views of Members of the European Parliament and some European politicians who have declared solidarity with the Kurdish people in Rojava.
Martin Schirdewan
Martin Schirdewan, MEP, Co-Chair of The Left Group in the European Parliament, DIE LINKE Germany: “Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President António Costa were in Damascus ten days ago to present a large check to al-Sharaa and support him with European taxpayers’ money. It is unacceptable that this transitional government and the war it is waging against the Kurds are being financed with European public funds. European heads of state must not roll out the red carpet for al-Sharaa.
I now call on European politicians and Chancellor Merz to take a clear stance and demand an immediate end to the conflicts being waged against Kurds and other ethnic and religious groups in Syria. The Kurds defeated ISIS and deserve gratitude and recognition for this. With the release of large numbers of ISIS fighters from prison, there is a threat of a new wave of ruthless violence and massacres. The international community must not abandon Rojava now and must show solidarity.”
Andreas Schieder
Andreas Schieder, MEP, Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), SPÖ Austria: “These past two weeks have once again brought great suffering to the Kurdish civilian population in Syria. Despite previous promises to include all peoples in a peaceful transition of the country, the Syrian leadership has resorted to violence and repression. We expect an honest effort from the transitional government toward lasting reconciliation; the endless spiral of hostility must be stopped immediately, and we strongly criticize Turkey’s role in the current conflict.
Europe must stand in solidarity with those who defend human rights. It must continue to provide humanitarian aid under all circumstances and expose those responsible for ruthless violence. As a Member of the European Parliament, I will continue to use my voice so that your voices are heard both within and beyond the European Union.”
Jonas Sjöstedt
Jonas Sjöstedt, MEP, The Left Group in the European Parliament – GUE/NGL, Left Party Sweden: “The situation in Syria is extremely worrying. The Islamist government is using military force to attack the Kurdish minority. Once again, as they have so many times before, the Kurds are being forced to defend themselves.
It is heartbreaking to watch this violence reemerge. The Kurds were at the forefront of the fight against ISIS and al-Qaeda. They fought and paid the price not only for their own survival, but on behalf of the entire world.
Yet today, those same Kurds who played a decisive role in defeating ISIS are now under brutal attack. Families are being displaced. Entire communities are living in fear, forced to flee again and again, with no security in sight.
In this situation, the international community must make it clear that violations of minority rights will never be tolerated. Alawites, Druze, Christians, and Kurds have the right to live freely and with dignity in Aleppo, in Rojava, and throughout Syria. Silence is not neutrality. Silence is complicity. The world must not look away.”
Evin Incir
Evin Incir, MEP, Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Swedish Social Democratic Party: “I am outraged by the war crimes, including executions and torture, committed against the Kurds by the Syrian regime with Turkey’s support. It is also deeply alarming that European Commission President von der Leyen met with al-Sharaa weeks ago and pledged 620 million euros in support, including direct bilateral funding, without any serious monitoring mechanism tied to human rights and international law conditions.
The EU cannot remain silent in the face of this massacre; the Kurds deserve our full support. I proposed that the situation in Syria be debated as an urgent agenda item in the European Parliament plenary. Unfortunately, a majority of the parliament rejected the emergency debate. Nevertheless, I will continue my efforts for the EU to take stronger measures, including a review of the pledged financial support. EU leaders must act immediately for a ceasefire and protect all minorities!”
Brando Benifel
Brando Benifei, MEP, Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Democratic Party (PD) Italy: “After the violence against the Druze and Alawite minorities, the Kurds are now once again under attack. This shows how dangerous the direction of post-Assad Syria under Ahmed al-Sharaa’s leadership has become, with Turkey’s support.
Kurds in Syria and Iraq were key allies of the West in the fight against ISIS and paid an extremely heavy price in human lives. Today, however, they are being deceived and abandoned for the sake of new regional power balances.
I extend my strongest feelings of solidarity to the readers and journalists of the Kurdish daily Yeni Özgür Politika, and to the Kurdish media who continue to report despite repression and threats.
The silence of the international community constitutes a serious political responsibility. The European Union, the United States, and coalition partners must exert every possible pressure on the new Syrian government to halt military operations and protect minorities.”
Özlem Alev Demirel
Özlem Alev Demirel, MEP, The Left Group in the European Parliament – GUE/NGL, DIE LINKE Germany: “Hands off Rojava! While Syrian government forces are besieging Kurdish regions near Aleppo and west of the Euphrates, killing and displacing civilians, EU Commission President von der Leyen met with Syrian leader al-Sharaa and pledged 620 million euros. German Chancellor Merz has also sought talks. Meanwhile, government forces backed by Turkey and Saudi Arabia continue to encircle the last self-governing Kurdish regions in northeastern Syria.
This escalation stems from the rejection of Kurdish self-administration in Rojava and the denial of the collective rights of Kurds and other minorities. The silence of the international community amounts to consent to these attacks. The United States is also abandoning the Kurds and failing to intervene.
The international community must act now. No funding should be provided to the al-Sharaa government until it guarantees the rights and security of Kurds, Alawites, Druze, and others. Syria is a multi-ethnic state. The Kurds, who fought ISIS and advocate a united Syria based on self-administration, deserve equal rights, recognition, and protection.”
Per Clausen
Per Clausen, MEP, The Left Group in the European Parliament – GUE/NGL, Enhedslisten Denmark: “What is happening in Syria is horrific and deeply alarming. We see the new Syrian regime attacking the Kurdish minority in the most brutal ways. Once again, as they have been forced to do many times before, the Kurds are compelled to defend themselves against attacks that increasingly resemble an attempt at ethnic cleansing.
The renewed outbreak of this senseless violence and repression is a catastrophe, and it seems as though the world has forgotten one thing: it was the Kurds who fought courageously on the front lines against ISIS/DAESH and al-Qaeda. Kurdish blood was shed not only for their own survival, but on behalf of the entire world.
Yet today, those same Kurdish communities are being attacked. The people who played a decisive role in defeating ISIS/DAESH and made immense sacrifices are now under assault. We are witnessing families and entire communities being displaced, people living in fear, and a total absence of security.
It is vital that the international community—including the European Union—clearly state that violations of minority rights will not be tolerated. Alawites, Druze, Christians, Kurds, or any minority whatsoever all have the right to live freely and with dignity throughout Syria.
If Europe chooses to remain silent on this issue, then we become complicit in what is happening. This must not be allowed.”
Ines Schwerdtner and Jan van Aken
Left Party (Die Linke) Co-Chairs Ines Schwerdtner and Jan van Aken, and foreign policy spokesperson Cansu Özdemir, Berlin, Germany: “Rojava must remain a beacon of hope!
Autonomous Rojava is facing the greatest threat in its history. This also threatens the freedom of millions of people who are able to live there without repression or tutelage. Rojava is a beacon of hope for the peoples of the region who suffer from wars, dictatorships, and patriarchal structures. Women’s rights are respected there.
This stands out as a thorn in the side of Islamists, together with their supporters in Ankara and Riyadh, and that is why they want to destroy Rojava. Islamist HTS militias are already executing Kurdish women fighters. In addition, ISIS fighters are escaping en masse from prisons previously guarded by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). In this way, Syrian leaders around President al-Sharaa are actively encouraging the resurgence of the Islamic State.
The federal government must not evade its responsibilities now and must clearly tell al-Sharaa that the army and militias must immediately cease hostilities. The federal government is drawing closer to these Islamists and turning a blind eye to massacres carried out by the army and militias: first against Alawites, then Druze, and now Kurds.
We will not abandon the courageous people of Rojava now and declare our solidarity with the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. Rojava must have a future so that all the peoples living there may also have a future.
We call on the federal government to strongly condemn Turkish and Syrian attacks on the Rojava region. Al-Sharaa’s state visit to Germany must be officially canceled. Under these conditions, there can be no normalization of relations between Germany and Syria. We also call for a special session of the United Nations on the situation in Syria.”
Mathilde Panot
In a comprehensive letter addressed to Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, Mathilde Panot, President of the parliamentary group of La France Insoumise in the French National Assembly, sharply criticized the French government in response to escalating attacks against Kurds in northern Syria. Panot stated, “Our country cannot simply stand by and watch the attacks by Islamist militias backed by Turkey and the Syrian army against the Kurds,” calling on the authorities in Paris to take urgent and decisive action. She said, “These attacks directly target the fundamental rights of the Kurds in Syria and the autonomy of Rojava. Rojava’s social contract, based on women’s equal participation and the coexistence of peoples, is a unique model of hope in the Middle East. This model must be protected and actively defended.”
Petra Bayr
Petra Bayr, Member of the Austrian National Council and SPÖ spokesperson for foreign policy and global development: “The situation of the Kurdish population in North and East Syria remains extremely unstable. Fighting, arrests, displacement, and severe restrictions on freedom of movement are forcing many civilians to live in fear and insecurity. At the same time, the Syrian Transitional Government has declared war on the DAANES and the achievements of the Rojava Revolution, targeting democratic self-administration and hard-won social progress. Turkey is playing a driving role in this escalation, while much of the international community remains silent.
For me, one point is clear: without the meaningful inclusion of Kurdish actors, the protection of civilians, and equality in minority rights, stability in Syria or the wider region is impossible. The Kurdish question is not a secondary issue; it is a central element for peace, democracy, and human rights in the Middle East. The democratic and multi-ethnic structures built in North and East Syria must not be sacrificed to geopolitical interests. I stand in full solidarity with the people of Rojava.”
Fabian Molina
Fabian Molina, Member of Parliament, Swiss Social Democratic Party: “The Swiss Social Democratic Party and I stand in solidarity with the Kurdish people in Syria and with all minorities under threat. Jihadist attacks on Aleppo have displaced tens of thousands of people and killed dozens.
We call on the Swiss Federal Council to immediately implement the motion adopted by parliament: Switzerland must uphold its humanitarian tradition, work at the international level to protect civilians, and consistently punish violations of international law. Only then can peace, democracy, and justice become a real possibility for Syria. Solidarity is a political responsibility.”