Ilham Ahmed: Kurds Have Entered a New Political Phase in Syria

Kurdistan 03:25 PM - 2026-09-07

Ilham Ahmed speaking to Banu Güven.

In an interview with Turkish channel iLKE TV, conducted by journalist Banu Güven, Ilham Ahmed said the Kurds of Syria have entered a new political phase following years of struggle and armed resistance in Rojava [Northeastern Syria].

She said the process of integration with Damascus and the dissolution of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is intended to guarantee the rights of the Kurds and all other components of Syrian society through the Syrian constitution.

Ahmed described the current phase as “difficult and sensitive”, saying that the transition from military action to a political track requires new negotiations to guarantee the political, cultural and educational rights of the Kurds within a democratic Syria that embraces all its components.

Kurdish Education: A “Regression Compared with the Past”

One of the main issues discussed in the interview was Kurdish-language education, which Ahmed criticised as a regression compared with the system previously implemented in areas under the Autonomous Administration.

She said the Kurdish side had demanded during negotiations that Kurdish become the official language of education in full. However, under the current agreement, three classes will be taught in Kurdish, alongside four subjects taught in Kurdish, covering philosophy, geography, history and extracurricular activities.

Ahmed stressed that “the Kurds are an integral part of Syria and have the right to education in their mother tongue”, adding that the ultimate goal is for Kurdish to become an official language in educational institutions, rather than merely being taught as a subject or elective.

She said thousands of students had studied theoretical curricula in Kurdish for years, up to secondary level, and warned that a sudden shift to Arabic could negatively affect their academic performance and future studies.

Regarding preparatory education, Ahmed said social studies would be taught in Kurdish as an elective within an education system combining Kurdish and Arabic. She added that the legal and regulatory framework for university education had not yet been finalised.

Academic Year Faces Translation and Curriculum Challenges

Regarding the start of the academic year, Ahmed said classes were scheduled to begin between 15 and 20 September.

She warned that immediately implementing the new education system could create difficulties, particularly because the curricula require translation and printing, a process that normally takes several months.

Ahmed said she had proposed maintaining the self-administration education system for the current academic year to allow sufficient time for curriculum development. However, she said the Ministry of Education had decided to implement the new system across Syria, which could lead to “difficulties and injustice for students”.

YPJ to Join Interior Ministry as Special Operations Unit

On the military and security file, Ahmed said the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) would join the Syrian Ministry of Interior as a special operations unit after a proposal to integrate women into the army was rejected.

She said the Kurdish side had advocated for women’s participation in the army, noting that this model exists in many countries around the world, but negotiations with Damascus had failed to reach agreement on the proposal.

Under the current agreement, she said, the YPJ will operate as a special force under the Ministry of Interior while maintaining its autonomy and defensive capabilities. Negotiations are continuing to finalise the details, she added.

Women’s Representation in Damascus Remains Limited

Ahmed criticised the level of women’s participation in decision-making institutions in Damascus, saying their presence remains limited and is often symbolic.

She said changing the prevailing mindset would take time, noting that discussions about the importance of women’s roles had yet to be adequately reflected in actual decision-making positions within state institutions.

Ahmed said women currently account for no more than 10 per cent of parliament, describing the figure as “very low”, and called for a feminist struggle to enshrine women’s rights in the constitution.

She said three Kurdish women parliamentarians from Afrin and Hasakah were participating in parliament, in addition to herself. She added that she was awaiting a presidential decree determining the parliamentary committees and expected to join the Foreign Relations Committee and the Constitutional Drafting Committee.

Constitutional Demands: A Democratic and Pluralistic Syria

On Syria’s new constitution, Ahmed said the timetable for launching constitutional discussions had not yet been finalised.

She stressed that Kurdish demands centre on building “a democratic Syria that accommodates all its components”, saying Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen, Syriacs, Assyrians and Armenians must all be represented in the constitutional framework.

She noted that cultural gains, including recognition of national holidays such as Nowruz and the freedom to speak Kurdish, require broader constitutional, political and legal implementation.

Rights and freedoms, political recognition of the various communities, and the legal framework governing political parties also require comprehensive constitutional and legal guarantees, she added.

Around 500 People Remain Missing

Regarding the missing persons file, Ahmed said the fate of around 500 civilians and military personnel remained unknown, with it unclear whether they were detained or had died.

She said lists containing the names of missing people had been submitted to the relevant authorities in an effort to establish their fate.

On the return of displaced people, Ahmed said a number of residents of Afrin had managed to return despite difficulties, while some displaced families were still living in their former homes.

She added that efforts were under way to facilitate returns to Ras al-Ayn (Sere Kaniye) and Tell Abyad and overcome the remaining obstacles.

360,000 Applications for Citizenship

As part of the integration and state-building process, Ahmed said all steps were being taken through negotiation and consensus, stressing that the objective was to build a state for all Syrians rather than for any single group.

She said the process of granting citizenship to unregistered and stateless people was nearing completion, with approximately 360,000 people having applied for official citizenship.

Ahmed described the development as a “significant gain” for the Kurds.

Türkiye a Key Player in Syria’s Future

Regarding regional and international influence, Ahmed said Türkiye had become a major and influential player in determining Syria’s future, alongside the United States and Britain, as the roles of Iran and Russia had declined.

Speaking about Abdullah Öcalan’s role, she said his messages and his calls for dialogue and avoiding war had played a “fundamental and decisive role” in halting clashes, including the confrontations in Manbij, and in advancing the March 10 agreement and peaceful integration within a democratic Syria.

No Direct Channels with Turkish Foreign Ministry

Regarding relations with Türkiye, Ahmed expressed hope that channels of dialogue would be opened and official visits arranged, saying direct communication could help resolve outstanding issues.

She also called for the removal of the names of Kurdish leaders from Turkish security lists, arguing that their activities had been political and focused on defending the rights of the Kurdish people.

However, Ahmed confirmed that “there are no direct channels of communication with the Turkish Foreign Ministry at present”, while expressing hope that a formal dialogue track could be established in the future.



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