Kurdish Language Recognised in New Syrian Decree

Syria’s President Issues Decree Recognizing Kurdish National Rights

Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa has issued a decree formally recognizing Kurdish as a national language and restoring citizenship to all Kurdish Syrians. The decree, announced on Friday, marks the first formal recognition of Kurdish national rights since Syria’s independence in 1946.

The decree comes after clashes broke out last week in the northern city of Aleppo, resulting in at least 23 deaths and forcing tens of thousands of people to flee the area. The violence has deepened existing faultlines in Syria, where al-Sharaa has promised to unify the country under one leadership.

As part of the decree, Kurdish is designated as a national language alongside Arabic, allowing schools to teach it. The decree also abolishes measures dating back to 1962 that stripped many Kurds of Syrian nationality, granting citizenship to all affected residents. Additionally, the decree declares Newroz, the spring and new year festival, a paid national holiday.

The decree includes provisions banning ethnic or linguistic discrimination, requiring state institutions to adopt inclusive national messaging, and setting penalties for incitement to ethnic strife. The Syrian army has also taken control of the town of Deir Hafer outside Aleppo city, following an agreement between Kurdish forces and the government.

According to reports, the SDF leader Mazloum Abdi announced that his forces would withdraw from their strongholds in the city on Friday morning. The Syrian government is seeking to extend its authority across the country following the removal of former President Bashar al-Assad.

The decree grants rights to millions of Kurds living across Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Turkey, with an estimated 1-1.5 million residing in northeastern Syria controlled by the SDF.

Source: Al Jazeera