Reactions continue over the reception of Syrian Interim Government President Ahmed Al-Sharaa (al-Jolani) by the Federal German Government. Ferat Koçak, a member of the Bundestag for Die Linke, criticized the visit in remarks to ANF, describing Europe’s Syria policy, particularly that of Germany, as “problematic,” while pointing to systematic human rights violations and the fate of missing journalists in Syria.
Koçak addressed al-Jolani’s visit by drawing attention to the situation in Syria and said: “Developments over the past year in Syria show that human rights violations continue systematically, particularly in areas controlled by armed groups affiliated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Pressure on Kurds, attacks against Christian, Druze and Alevi communities, and increasing threats against other minorities reveal a serious erosion of pluralism and fundamental rights in the region.”
Spiral of violence is deepening
Koçak also addressed the current conflict environment in Syria and said: “This picture suggests that these structures either cannot control or do not want to control the radical elements within them. In the environment shaped by ongoing conflict dynamics and ceasefire violations, the spiral of violence is deepening, and the prospect of a lasting and inclusive peace is increasingly being undermined.”
Europe’s policy is unacceptable
Ferat Koçak criticized Germany and Europe’s political approach to Syria. Koçak said: “Attacks against minorities and the targeting of civilians constitute clear violations of international law. Despite this, the policy pursued by Europe, and especially Germany, is highly problematic. Establishing contact with such dangerous actors and taking steps that grant them political legitimacy in order to control refugee flows shows that short-term interests are deepening long-term instability.”
Journalists are missing
Koçak also drew attention to the cases of missing German journalist Eva Maria Michelman and Kurdish journalist Ahmed Polat. He said: “The detention of German journalist Eva Maria Michelman and Kurdish journalist Ahmed Polat, and the fact that no information has been received about them, is deeply concerning. This situation represents a serious alarm for press freedom and the rule of law. The failure of the German government to take sufficient and effective action in this matter creates a clear contradiction with the democratic values it claims to uphold.”
Ferat Koçak stressed that Germany’s foreign policy must be aligned with universal human rights and the principles of international law. He said: “At a time when so many serious problems are evident, the Chancellor’s decision to invite al-Jolani is a major and dangerous mistake.”
Normalization with the Syrian regime is not possible
Meanwhile, Die Linke Bundestag foreign policy spokesperson Cansu Özdemir and Member of the European Parliament Martin Schirdewan strongly criticized Germany’s reception of al-Jolani in Berlin in a joint statement shared on digital platforms. Saying “There should be no state reception for Islamists,” the politicians described Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s decision to host al-Jolani as unacceptable.
The statement underlined that Kurds and the democratic autonomous administration in Rojava have been under intense attacks for weeks, with civilians being killed, tortured and displaced. It stressed that normalization with the Syrian regime is not possible under such conditions and stated that the federal government is “turning a blind eye to the gravest human rights violations by rolling out the red carpet for Islamist al-Sharaa.”
The statement also noted that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has given weight to this policy at the European Union level, describing it as “not a values-based foreign policy, but the legitimization of violence.” It concluded by emphasizing that Rojava represents democracy, equality and coexistence, and called for it to be supported and recognized.
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