Syrian leader affirms Kurdish rights in nationwide decree

(MENAFN) Syrian authorities announced on Friday evening that the president had issued a special decree formally recognizing the Kurdish community as an essential part of the country and guaranteeing their cultural, linguistic, and civil rights, according to official statements.

The decree affirms that Kurdish Syrians constitute a “basic and authentic” component of the Syrian population, stressing that their cultural and linguistic identity is inseparable from Syria’s unified yet diverse national character. It underscores the state’s responsibility to protect cultural and linguistic pluralism while ensuring that Kurds are able to preserve their heritage, traditions, and artistic expression within the framework of national sovereignty.

As outlined in the measure, the Kurdish language is acknowledged as “a national language.”

Instruction in Kurdish will be allowed in both public and private schools in regions with sizable Kurdish populations, either as an elective subject or through designated cultural and educational programs.

The decree also annuls all extraordinary laws and administrative measures linked to the 1962 census conducted in Hasakah province. In addition, it grants Syrian nationality to all residents of Kurdish origin living in the country, including individuals previously listed as stateless, guaranteeing equal rights and responsibilities for all citizens.

In a symbolic step, the decision designates the March 21 Nowruz Festival as a paid official holiday across the country, describing it as a nationwide celebration of spring and social unity.

Furthermore, state media outlets and educational institutions are instructed to adopt an inclusive national narrative. The decree explicitly bans discrimination or exclusion based on ethnic or linguistic identity and states that any incitement to ethnic discord will be prosecuted under existing laws.

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