Kurdish calls for decentralization are rejected by Syria’s Sharaa

Syria’s Islamist leaders warned Sunday that national unity was in danger due to Kurdish calls for the country to embrace a decentralized system of government in a post-Assad political regime.

The office of Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa issued a statement saying, “We categorically oppose any attempt to enforce a division or establish separatist cantons under the guise of federalism or self-autonomy without a national consensus.”

“The unity of Syrian territory and its people is a red line,” the declaration declared.

At a summit in Syria’s Kurdish-controlled city of Qamishli on Saturday, rival Syrian Kurdish parties—including the main group in the Kurdish-run northeast—agreed on a shared political vision for the country’s Kurdish minority.

Following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, a future Syrian constitution should guarantee respect for Kurdish national rights in Syria, according to a statement issued at the conclusion of the conference, which was attended by U.S. officials.

“A joint Kurdish political vision has been formulated that expresses a collective will and its project for a just solution to the Kurdish issue in Syria as a decentralized democratic state,” the statement added.

Last month, the U.S.-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Damascus reached an agreement to combine Kurdish-led security forces and administrative bodies with the central government.

According to the Syrian presidency’s statement, recent remarks made by SDF officials in favor of a federal solution were blatantly in opposition to that agreement.

Approximately 25% of Syria’s land, which contains the majority of the country’s oil riches and fertile arable land that yields a significant amount of the nation’s wheat, was captured by Kurdish-led parties during the 14-year civil war.

Despite claims of inclusivity, Kurdish authorities have criticized the manner Syria’s ruling Islamists are directing the country’s transition from Assad’s authority, claiming they are not honoring Syria’s diversity.