Searching for a Meaningful Democracy in Syria
I found true democracy in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria and the Syrian Democratic Council… None of this was apparent in 2011, when the Syrian civil uprising caused me to become a political refugee, fleeing my home with only a laptop and the clothes on my back.Continue Reading
Freedom of Expression is a Pillar of Human Rights
Authoritarian governments seek to silence critics and jail the opposition. Democracies protect the human right to free speech.Continue Reading
Euphrates River Dry Due to Turkey’s Brutal Occupation, Withholding Water
The weaponization of water by Turkey has exacerbated the regional crisis, worsened the economic situation in Syria’s breadbasket, and placed millions of Syrians at risk of disease and death.Continue Reading
Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS Meets, Renews Commitment to “Partner Forces”
Ministers of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS met in Rome on Monday, June 28, 2021. Participants included US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken. They issued a joint statement that reiterated their commitment to fight ISIS…Continue Reading
Independence Day Regards from the US Mission of the Syrian Democratic Council
May our shared democratic spirit unite the people of Syria and the people of the United States as we work together to bring true democracy – dignity, peace, and equality – across the globe.Continue Reading
A New Face of Genocide: Settlements in Afrin, Syria
Turkey seeks to make it impossible for the Kurdish people to return to their homes by settling new people in the region. When will it become clear to the international community that this is exactly what genocide looks like?Continue Reading
Influential Think Tank Makes Recommendations to Biden Administration on North and East Syria
The report makes key recommendations to US officials, including a policy of “conditional engagement” toward Turkey and an increase in the US troop level from 1,500 to 2,000 troops in the region.Continue Reading
Exhibition of Local Products Aims to Strengthen Domestic Economies
An exhibition of local industries in North and East Syria was held with the aim of supporting self-sufficiency, bolstering the local economy, encouraging investment, and providing job opportunities in the local market.Continue Reading
Self-Sufficiency and Cooperation: How North and East Syria’s Cooperatives Seek to Empower Local Economies
Economic cooperatives have been a major initiative promoted by the AANES as a means of promoting equality, self-sufficiency, and cooperation amongst the various ethnicities and religions, as well as genders.Continue Reading
North and East Syria Sees First COVID-19 Vaccinations
At least 23,000 doses of the vaccine have arrived in North and East Syria. They have been distributed among the elderly, internally displaced persons at camps, medical personnel, and individuals in at-risk communities.Continue Reading
AANES Executive Board Meets to Discuss Issues of the Day
The gathering emphasized the inhumanity of Turkey in cutting off water to Syria and called for influential states to intervene in the Syrian and United Nations to deter Turkey from these immoral practices.Continue Reading
A Constituent Meeting Of ISIS Victims Platform In North And East Syria
The platform represents the voice of the victims and aims to bring the suffering of all those affected by the terrorist organization ISIS to international forums, in order to establish fair trials for the perpetrators of these crimes.Continue Reading
Delegations from Catalonia and France Visit North and East Syria
Discussions ranged from the water shortages resulting from Turkey’s inhumane cutting off of water to North and East Syria, as well as the closure of border crossings and the widespread human rights violations in Turkish-occupied regions. Continue Reading
We Can’t End the Forever War Without Stopping “The City of ISIS”
One boy stops and speaks to the reporter directly. He appears to be about seven years old. “When I grow up, I will behead you,” he says. Why? Because she is a woman who does not follow ISIS ideology.Continue Reading
The COVID Aid Gap in Syria
“There is unfairness in the distribution of these materials,” said Dr. Jiwan Mustafa, AANES Health Authority, “and what is granted to North and East Syria is considered very little regarding the population census and the need in North and East Syria.”Continue Reading
Tortured to Death: Survivor of Detention Under Turkish Occupation Speaks
A survivor of torture and detention under the Turkish occupation of Syria, Ms. Zainab Ahmed, age 63, is bravely coming forward to discuss the explicit details of sexual assault, torture, murder, and other atrocities that she has witnessed. The stories of abuse she tells are difficult to hear.Continue Reading
Top US Diplomat Supports Religious Freedom in Syria
“No one should fear violence, or persecution, for their beliefs. But today, this basic right is threatened in so many places around the world – including Iraq and Syria, Ethiopia, Burma, China, and Nigeria, just to name a few,” said Amb Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US Ambassador to the UN.Continue Reading
SDC US Joins Esteemed Panelists for “The Kurds in the Middle East”
“It is always said that the Kurds have no friends but the mountains. I can now say, we have mountains of friends,” said Mohamad, during her segment of the discussion series. Mohamad emphasized shared values of democracy, equality, and human rights.Continue Reading
US Congress Members Propose Law to Permit Visas for SDF Fighters and Others
“The American handshake needs to mean something. The Syrian Partner Protection Act honors the promise we made to our Syrian and Kurdish partners in Syria who have been our allies on the ground in the fight against ISIS,” said US Representative Jason Crow.Continue Reading
Joe Biden’s “America Is Back” Policy Should Start with Syria
Erdogan supports violence against women in Turkey, women in Syria, Kurds in Afrin, and elsewhere. Will the United States shore up its principles, and match words with action?Continue Reading
Why Resistance Is Foundational to Kurdish Literature
Still, being a Kurdish writer is about rebirth and resistance. The precarious life of Kurds has traveled through history and will continue to do so. If I do what I know how to do, at the very least, I can show that even in the age of nation-states, stateless Kurds matter and we are as complicated, important, imperfect, funny, and fascinating as any other group of humans.Continue Reading
Water and Democracy in North and East Syria
Our people survived the authoritarian Syrian regime for decades. We withstood the past decade of war and instability. We battled the invading armies of ISIS. We have weathered a crushing economic collapse in the past year. With our inspiring democratic model, and with our unity and persistence, we can bring water and life back to Hasakah.Continue Reading
SDC to Host Discussion on Ten Years of Syrian Conflict
The discussion will address the Syrian crisis from the point of view of North and East Syria, focusing on US policy toward the region.Continue Reading
Former Deputy US Special Envoy Says “Ethnic Cleansing” Has Occurred Under Turkey’s Occupation
A recently-retired US diplomat has said that “ethnic cleansing” has occurred under the Turkish occupation of North and East Syria. William Roebuck, former Deputy Special Envoy to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, made the comments in an interview last week.Continue Reading
US Deputy Envoy Joins People of North and East Syria on Newroz and Akito
Brownstein celebrated both Newroz and Akito with officials from the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), and the local population in Hasakah, Syria.Continue Reading
Syrian Democratic Forces Conduct Arrests in Al-Howl, “The City of ISIS”
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have now concluded the first stage of the Campaign for Humanity and Security inside Al-Howl camp, often called “The City of ISIS,” completing an effort aimed at finding and arresting those responsible for the public wave of assassinations and violence that has occurred in the camp in the past three months.Continue Reading
Syrian Democratic Council Meets with Swedish Foreign Ministry
An online meeting was held between the Syrian Democratic Council and the Swedish Foreign Minister that underscored the commitment Sweden has made to support the people of North and East Syria.Continue Reading
US-NES Roundup
Secretary Blinken gives first serious statement on Syria | UN Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield announces aid to Syria | Deputy Special Envoy celebrates Newroz and Akito in NES | William Roebuck says “ethnic cleansing” has happened under Turkey | AUMF moves closer to repeal | Ned Price fields question on Turkish abuses in Afrin | Special Envoy holds briefingContinue Reading
Three Years of Turkish Horrors in Afrin, Syria
In early 2018, the Turkish military invaded Afrin. The Turkish government now occupies the region, which is the site of frequent human rights violations and war crimes.Continue Reading
Each Syrian is Part of a Whole
There are many threads, colors, and materials necessary to create the breathtaking pattern of our society. The region of North and East Syria is a part of the tapestry.Continue Reading
Exclusive Interview with Newroz Ehmed, YPJ Commander in “The Daughters of Kobani”
In an exclusive interview with the Syrian Democratic Times, Newroz Ehmed discusses the future of the Syrian Democratic Forces, the US military presence in Syria, the women’s movement in Syria, the Kurdish experience, what motivates her on a daily basis, and more.Continue Reading
“We Want a United Syria,” says SDC Representative
“If we look on the map, what do we see today?” asked Mohamad. “We can see a divided Syria. But we want a united Syria… We are not looking for separation, we are looking for autonomy. I don’t want to see Syria divided.”Continue Reading
International Women’s Day Remarks from Syrian Democratic Council
This International Women’s Day, we will celebrate nearly 10 years of resistance and success that no enemy could destroy. We will continue to build our women’s revolution, and hope that we can be a model for women’s inclusion in the future of Syria and the Middle East.Continue Reading
Women Rise from Adversity to Celebrate Women’s Movement in North and East Syria
Women from all parts of North and East Syria held events to celebrate International Women’s Day, March 8, 2021, despite economic hardship, military occupation, and instability.Continue Reading
Biggest Challenges to North and East Syria Women: Extremism, COVID, Exclusion from Peace Talks
Despite inspiring advances, women in the region are currently facing several unique challenges that threaten to reverse their progress. What are the main challenges to women’s rights in North and East Syria?Continue Reading
Co-Leadership Model of North and East Syria Means Women Lead at Highest Levels
In North and East Syria, women lead at the highest levels of government thanks to the co-leadership model. They hold these roles not as tokens, but as decision-makers, respected voices, and influential thinkers.Continue Reading
Statement by Jinwar Council: We Are Determined to Shape Our Future
We call upon all the women of the world to join us, to spin dreams of a life of solidarity, to weave a solid and colorful fabric of resistance, because every woman, every child, all people can contribute.Continue Reading
General Mazlum Abdi Kobani Speaks of Biden Policy on Syria, Willingness to Visit with US Officials
General Mazlum Abdi Kobani, commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, expresses high hopes that US President Joe Biden’s team will proactively address the Syrian crisis in a way that protects the human rights of all Syrians.Continue Reading
Backlash for The New York Times After Dubious Article on Turkish Occupation
Many experts were shocked when The New York Times, one of the most respected news sources in the world, published an article that seemed to say that the Turkish occupation of Afrin had been good for the region, and that Turkey’s brutal land grab was somehow a humanitarian mission.Continue Reading
A Symbol of Unity, Six Years After Christians Attacked By ISIS
Six years ago, the Assyrian Christians of the Khabour villages in Syria were undergoing a brutal attack by ISIS. The villagers were brutalized, detained, and held for ransom. Many doubted they would survive the ordeal.Continue Reading
“The Daughters of Kobani” is Released to Rave Reviews, TV Series Deal with Hillary Clinton’s Production Company
The book, “The Daughters of Kobani: A Story of Rebellion, Courage, and Justice” also traces the personal stories of several YPJ commanders and other individuals before, during, and after the battle, and offers valuable political, ideological, and historic context for the fight.Continue Reading
No Clear Prospects Yet for Vaccine in North and East Syria
Based on prior aid delivery practices, it seems certain that the Assad government will reserve the vaccines for its own government officials and loyalist regions, while leaving other regions of Syria to fend for themselves.Continue Reading
What Shape is US Policy Taking Toward North and East Syria?
There are some signs emerging on what Biden’s Syria policy may look like. For now, the US military is planning to stay where it is in North and East Syria and in collaboration with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), as confirmed by a spokesperson for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, Operation Inherent Resolve.Continue Reading
Ayn Issa Shows the Enduring Consequences of America’s Withdrawal
The ongoing situation in Ayn Issa continues to display the chaotic situation that resulted from the abrupt withdrawal of American forces in October 2019 and the Turkish invasion that followed. Turkish, Russian, and regime forces all became major influencers of events in regions of Syria that they previously had very little influence over.Continue Reading
330 Students Have Graduated from University of Rojava
There have been 330 graduates of the University of Rojava, who have graduated in the five years since its founding during times of war, instability, and hardship.Continue Reading
Syrian Democratic Council Meets with Belgian Delegation
The President of the Executive Committee of the Syrian Democratic Council, Ilham Ahmed, received a delegation of Belgian parliamentarians in Qamishlo the first week of December 2020. They discussed political and humanitarian issues.Continue Reading
A Year for Building Stability and Peace
2021 is the year that the people of North and East Syria are calling upon the international community for inclusion in talks on the future of Syria. We ask to be recognized as a key player in the solution to the Syrian crisis.Continue Reading
Year in Review: 2020 in North and East Syria
As 2021 dawns, the AANES remains committed to a peaceful resolution of the Syrian conflict through dialog. It remains committed to initiatives to expand true democracy in the region — feminism, religious diversity, ethnic diversity, self-rule, and self-protection.Continue Reading
Human Rights Organisation of Afrin, Syria, Releases Shocking Report on Abuses
Since the first day of Turkey’s occupation of Afrin, the horrendous human rights violations against civilians, especially the Kurds, have not stopped, as all immoral and illegal practices are being carried out against the remaining locals who were trapped inside the region.Continue Reading
COVID Outbreak in North and East Syria Accelerating
The number of COVID-19 cases in North and East Syria since the start of the pandemic is now 8,313 cases. Of these cases, there have been 285 deaths. The number of cases continues to climb, and represents a dangerous acceleration in the transmission of the virus.Continue Reading