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A Message to the Syrian People, the Leadership of the SDF, the Autonomous Administration, and the Kurdish Movement as a Whole
It is crucial to remain vigilant in the face of the catastrophic scheme being orchestrated by the Al-Jolani-led government, under blatantly foreign directives. This project does not merely aim to undermine national cohesion among Syria’s diverse communities, but also seeks to eliminate any legitimate demands by the Syrian peoples—foremost among them the Kurdish cause, which they are attempting to erase from Syria’s future.
This conspiracy, currently being marketed as “dialogues” between the Syrian Interim Government and the SDF, is nothing more than a calculated trap. It begins with efforts to dismantle and isolate the SDF from the Kurdish region, leaving the Autonomous Administration exposed and defenseless. This, in turn, will pave the way for external forces to impose conditions, dismantle the administration as a political, administrative, and cultural entity, and seize control over the region’s economy and resources. The result will be the marginalization of the Kurdish issue—geographically, politically, and culturally—through mechanisms reminiscent of the old Ba’ath regime.
If this plan succeeds, the Kurdish movement and people will be stripped of their leverage and ability to negotiate. No political dialogue will follow—only dictates delivered under the guise of Turkish-sponsored “integration” into what is euphemistically called the "Syrian National Army." This so-called “army” is merely a repackaged version of former ISIS members and HTS elements attempting to rebrand themselves with a false nationalist identity to gain local and international legitimacy—at the expense of the sacrifices made by the SDF.
The current actions of the Syrian Interim Government—driven by Turkish and Qatari agendas, with Saudi Arabia entering the equation through its Wahhabi-aligned ideology—constitute yet another crime against Syria and its peoples.
What is urgently needed is a comprehensive restructuring of Syria’s political and administrative system through the establishment of a genuine, decentralized federal system. This includes the creation of five clearly defined administrative and geographic zones, with Western Kurdistan declared as an official federal entity extending from Derik (Dêrika Hemko) to the western edges of Afrin, and southward to the Euphrates River.
The Kurdish region does not require imposed leadership or central guardianship. It is fully capable—with its skilled population and harmonious social fabric—of managing its own political, administrative, economic, and cultural affairs. A return to the appointment of governors and officials from outside the region is merely a recycled form of central dictatorship, now cloaked in more deceptive forms.
Attacks on political decentralization, framed as a fear of partition or Kurdish separatism, are nothing but calculated efforts to revive authoritarian centralism—based on unrealistic accusations that ignore the truth: centralism has always been the root of Syria’s destruction.
Therefore, we urge the leadership of the Autonomous Administration, the SDF, and the newly elected council following the Qamishlo Conference to:
Firmly uphold the demand for a decentralized federal system as a non-negotiable principle, and make it the foundation of any political dialogue.
Strengthen alliances with international actors who view federalism as a guarantee for Syrian stability—especially the United States and France—while clearly outlining the dangers of supporting any emerging authoritarian centralism.
Accelerate internal development of the Kurdish region—administratively, economically, and culturally—to secure the future of the federal project from within before relying on outside support.
Expand inclusive national partnerships with other Syrian components on the basis of equal rights, to prevent attempts to isolate or discredit the Kurdish project in the media.
Any complacency at this critical juncture will mean the loss of all that has been achieved—not only for the Kurds, but for all Syrians who dream of a democratic, pluralistic Syria free from tyrants and old regimes in new disguises.
Dr. Mahmoud Abbas
