Sinam Sherkany Mohamad, co-chair of the US Mission of the Syrian Democratic Council, participated in a discussion series with other prominent political figures, academics, and leaders to discuss issues related to Kurds. The discussion, entitled “The Kurds in the Middle East,” was hosted by Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs and the organization Justice For Kurds.
“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 the shared values of democracy, equality, and human rights, shared between the Kurdish communities who are part of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), the United States, and other democracies.
Mohamad joined an esteemed group of panelists who are speaking during the four-part series, including President Nechirvan Barzani of the Kurdistan Regional Government. For a one-hour discussion centering perspectives from the Kurdish region, Mohamad joined seasoned KRG diplomat and respected global affairs thinker, Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman. Other panelists include: Thomas S. Kaplan, Chairman of Justice for Kurds; Bernard-Henri Lévy, President of Justice for Kurds, Philosopher, Filmmaker and Activist; General (Ret) David H. Petraeus, formerly commander of the US Central Command; Amb Dennis Ross, who has played a central role in shaping US policy in the Middle East; Amb Robert Ford, former US diplomat who served as Ambassador to Syria 2011-2014; and Kenneth Pollack, Resident Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.
“Kurdistan is and continues to be an island of peace, stability, and co-existence in the troubled Middle East,” said Barzani, during his segment of the discussion series. “Yes, the people of Kurdistan share your values, and are ready to contribute positively.”
The four-part discussion concludes on Tuesday, May 4, with a session entitled, “Does America Need a New Strategy for Iraq, Syria, and the Kurds?”