Kurdish political forces gather at landmark conference with over 400 participants from across Kurdistan regions and Syria, aiming to forge unified stance amid regional challenges.
Unprecedented Gathering of Kurdish Representatives
The “Unity of the Kurdish Rank and Stance in Rojava – Kurdistan” Conference commenced at Azadi Park in Qamishlo, Jazira Canton, drawing more than 400 participants representing diverse Kurdish communities. Delegations arrived from Rojava, North Kurdistan, South Kurdistan, and various Syrian regions including Damascus, Aleppo, Hama, al-Bab, and Azaz.
The historic assembly brought together representatives from all Kurdish political parties, women’s and youth organizations, cultural figures, social leaders, artists, and tribal elders. A delegation from North Kurdistan’s Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) participated alongside representatives from South Kurdistan, with solidarity messages from Kurdish parties abroad scheduled for presentation during the proceedings.
Media coverage was extensive, with over 60 media outlets and nearly 200 journalists invited to document what organizers described as “a historic gathering” aimed at strengthening Kurdish unity amidst ongoing regional challenges.
SDF Commander Emphasizes Unity as Key to Syrian Cohesion
The conference officially opened with a keynote address from General Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazloum Abdi, who set the tone by emphasizing that “Kurdish unity is Syrian unity, and the strength of the Kurds is a strength for Syria.”
Abdi clarified that Kurdish unity does not imply Syria’s division but rather reinforces the country’s cohesion. “In the new Syria, the rights of the Kurds must be guaranteed. This is our fundamental demand,” he stated, highlighting the Kurds’ longstanding struggle to preserve Syria’s territorial integrity.
He underscored the importance of establishing a decentralized constitution representing all components of Syrian society, adding, “It is our duty to safeguard the achievements made in northeastern Syria and to strengthen diversity and the rights of all communities.”
International Recognition and Diverse Leadership
The U.S. Department of State welcomed the conference’s convening in an official statement to North Press, signaling international recognition of the event’s significance.
Following Abdi’s opening remarks, Hamid Darbandi, public relations official in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq Presidency, delivered a message from Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani. Representatives from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Parti), and the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) also addressed the gathering.
The conference council includes prominent Kurdish leaders: Muhammad Ismail, head of the Kurdish National Council; Ilham Ahmad, head of Foreign Relations Department of the Autonomous Administration of North and Northeast Syria (AANES); and Parwin Youssef, co-chair of the Democratic Union Party (PYD).
After the public opening session featuring welcoming speeches and guest addresses, the conference proceeded behind closed doors for private deliberations. Participants engaged in discussions regarding the “Draft Kurdish Unity Document,” with the aim of finalizing and approving it before issuing a public final statement.
The historic gathering represents a significant step toward consolidating Kurdish political unity while affirming commitment to Syria’s territorial integrity and pushing for constitutional recognition of Kurdish rights within a diverse, decentralized Syrian state.
