Call out to protect the minorities and the democratic movement in Syria‏

Call out to the European Union and the international community to protect the minorities and the democratic movement in Syria
The Syrian revolution started with peaceful protests against the Syrian dictatorship in March 2011. Now it has changed into a proxy civil war. Besides Russia, Iran, Iraq, and Hezbollah who are supporting Assad’s terror regime, other forces like the Gulf States, Turkey, and other Sunni countries are supporting the armed rebels. At present, there is not any longer space left for a peaceful democratic opposition. On the contrary, Islamic – extremist groups have infiltrate these democratic movements, with the intention to establish an Islamic theocracy, based on Islamic law, the Shari’a.

These days, the only peaceful region in the north of the country is threatened to descend into chaos. After the withdrawal of the regime’s officials of the Northern, Kurdish dominated territories, Kurds took responsibility over the public administration. Furthermore, they successfully defended and protected the civil society and succeeded in providing a peaceful zone in the middle of the turmoil of war. However, some forces within the Syrian opposition are trying at all costs, to thwart the new Kurdish self – administration.

Already a few months ago, the city Serê Kaniyê (Ras Ala’yn) was the object of attacks, executed by armed fundamental Muslim groups. The attacks of the "Holy Warriors" from Nusra-Front as well as of the Iraqi-Syrian offshoot of al-Quaida on Kurdish towns in the North of the country have increased dramatically. Since two months the supply of the region has almost completely been halted due to the blockage of Nusra-Front and the free Syrian army.
The Turkish government has closed down its Syrian borders, even for international aid organizations. The hardship of the civil society is increasing, and the supply situation gets worse daily. Especially fresh water, food, medical supplies, fuel, and electricity are scarce goods.

Additionally, the Kurdish area is more exposed by all kinds of distress than other areas in Syria, because the area was ever since neglected by the Syrian regime and its racist Ba’ath policies.

Even under normal conditions, the Kurdish people suffered from deficient supply and lacking infrastructure. All the more controversial is the current situation. It can be assumed, that a humanitarian catastrophe is imminent.

The international society, especially the European Union, has to speak up more vigorously for the protection of minority rights. Particularly the Kurdish people who aspiring a democratic, secular and federal state and endured repression and deprivation of their basic human rights since decades, has to be protected. Concerning this, the International society and, first of all, the European Union, have to act on Turkey to open its border for humanitarian organizations.

Until now the Kurds were able to keep peace successfully within their territory, on that score the international humanitarian aid concentrates on the rest of Syria. But humanitarian support must not limited to special groups, but has to be distributed fairly. Up to now, aid supplies have not yet reached the Kurdish region. The humanitarian situation is more than threatening.

Besides that, refugees must not be deported back to Syria. The western countries must take responsibility for their failure and ease travel restrictions. As opposed to supply extremist groups with weapons, democratic forces should be more supported. Hence, the Kurdish people has to be encouraged in terms of capacity building, to build up a stable and efficient self – administration.

YASA - Kurdish Centre for Studies & Legal Consultancy