The Executive Committee of the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC), which brings together 40 unions and 20 trade union councils in Scotland and represents 550,000 members, held a meeting focused on “Rojava.”
Convened at the initiative of STUC General Secretary Dave Moxham and UNISON Scotland Depute Chair Stephen Smellie, the STUC decided to adopt a position paper against the attacks on Rojava and to initiate a series of solidarity campaigns.
In its position paper titled “Solidarity with the Kurds and the Rojava Revolution,” the STUC stated that it welcomed the ceasefire declared between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Rojava–North and East Syria. However, it emphasized, adding an important note of caution, that it condemns the use of force by Syrian armed forces against the SDF.
The STUC noted that “since 2011, Kurds and other groups indigenous to North-East Syria (“Rojava” in Kurdish) have been developing a system of self-governance based on popular democracy, women’s liberation, social ecology and a cooperative economy.” It added: “This remarkable example of inclusive self-determination has taken place while liberating one-third of Syria from ISIS/Daesh, resisting two invasions and occupations by jihadist groups backed by the Turkish state, under a sustained economic embargo, and without the presence of international humanitarian organisations.
In their invasions and occupations from January 2018 to January 2026, jihadist groups backed by the Turkish state and the transitional government in Damascus have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity, including extrajudicial killing, kidnapping, looting, ethnic cleansing and demographic engineering; these crimes have particularly targeted Kurds and self-organised women from all North-East Syria’s communities.”
The STUC continued: “Despite a ‘tactical, transactional and temporary’ (US Envoy Tom Barrack, January 2026) military alliance with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces against ISIS/Daesh, international powers have given no practical or political support to the Autonomous Administration of North-East Syria (AANES).
Since the fall of the Assad regime, welcomed by the people and administration of North-East Syria, AANES has consistently sought to partner with the Damascus government in the creation of an integral, democratic Syria.
The Council believes that a democratic Syria where all can thrive cannot be built based on military campaigns and state-enforced centralisation and that all parties must participate in inclusive negotiations which include options for decentralisation and recognising the rights of regions and minorities.”
The STUC resolved:
“-To send a statement of solidarity to Kurdish communities in Scotland via Scottish Solidarity with Kurdistan, asking that this be relayed to the people of North-East Syria, and other parts of wider Kurdistan.
-To donate to the emergency appeal for North-East Syria/Rojava launched by Kurdish Red Crescent (Heyva Sor a Kurdistanê), the sole humanitarian organisation operating on the ground.
-To renew affiliation to Scottish Solidarity with Kurdistan and ask our International Committee to work with them to promote awareness of the situation in North-East Syria/Rojava within UNISON and across the trade union movement.
-Call on the National Executive Council to make a statement in solidarity with the people of North-East Syria/Rojava and to call on the UK Government to liaise with Syrian officials to advocate for an end to military action against Kurdish communities and the Syrian Democratic Forces as part of negotiating a peaceful way forward for Syria.”
Leave a Reply