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Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are the gateway to saving Syria from tyranny and terrorism
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The SDF is the hope for salvation for the Syrian people
The SDF, the Autonomous Administration, and the Kurdish movement in general must realize that Syrians today are looking to them as a final hope for salvation. National components, from the Druze Qawasim to Christians and Alawites, passing through the broad section of patriotic Sunni Muslims, see in them the savior from the grip of a new tyranny—one that is no less dangerous to the homeland than the fallen Baathist regime.
Therefore, we hope that the SDF and the bodies engaged in dialogues with the government of Ahmed al-Sharq – Al-Golani will exercise utmost caution, and avoid succumbing to the establishment of a centralized authoritarian system that produces tyranny anew, or giving in to the demands of regional powers. Ultimately, major countries will align with the side that presents on the ground a living civilizational model of genuine democracy, as demonstrated by the SDF and the Autonomous Administration in their controlled areas.
We also hope that the Kurdish body emerging from the Qamishlo Conference will prioritize adherence to a decentralized political system and federalism, and support the SDF and the Autonomous Administration. This will make them a supportive pillar for the aspirations of all components of the Syrian people, not just the Kurds.
For over half a century, the Kurdish movement has been the voice of the Kurdish street and its national shield. Yet, it has always called for building a modern, just Syria. Today, after the dissolution of the Arab national opposition, its tasks have gone beyond defending the national cause to becoming a major national mission: contributing to the shaping of a new democratic state and leading a national rescue project that all Syrians await—represented by a decentralized federal system. A broad majority of the Syrian people now see the Kurds as the cornerstone in preventing the homeland from falling into the quagmire of darkness that terrorist organizations and tools of tyranny are pushing towards.
Most importantly today, the Syrian Democratic Forces are no longer just a military force fighting terrorism. They have become a national pillar upon which Syria can rely to protect not only the Autonomous Region but also Syria’s future. They have proven that pluralism and coexistence can be transformed into a political system on the ground, and they paid heavy prices fighting ISIS in defense of the entire world. Today, they bear an even deeper responsibility: to be the guarantor for building a decentralized democratic state that protects the rights of all Syrian components and prevents the return of tyranny in a new guise. Where the SDF stands as a democratic force rejecting participation in a government led by a central authority supported by extremist organizations, there lies Syria’s last hope for revival from beneath the rubble.
Dr. Mahmoud Abbas
