NEWS CENTER - Twenty-four parties and organizations in Rojava rejected the number of representatives allocated to Rojava in the Syrian Parliament, stating that Kurds make up 20 percent of the population and therefore should have 40 representatives in parliament.

 

Twenty-four political parties and organizations in Rojava held a joint press statement today in front of the Autonomous Administration’s Department of Foreign Relations building in Qamishlo following a meeting they held regarding the political process in the country on May 18. The Kurdish parties and organizations rejected the allocation of only 4 seats for Kurds in the Syrian Parliament. They stated that Kurds constitute approximately 20% of Syria’s population and therefore should be represented by at least 40 members of parliament.

 

Describing the Syrian Transitional Government’s election and appointment process as “a continuation of exclusionary and racist policies that do not reflect genuine representation,” the parties called for a new constitution that guarantees Kurdish rights and establishes real political partnership.

 

The press statement was read in Kurdish by Lokman Ehme, Co-Chair of the Democratic Green Party (Partiya Kesk a Demokratîk), and in Arabic by Pervîn Yusuf, Co-Chair of the Democratic Union Party (PYD).

 

The statement noted that the peoples of Syria expect the country to be rebuilt on the basis of genuine partnership, emphasizing that the Democratic Autonomous Administration model in Rojava (Western Kurdistan) and North and East Syria — where different peoples and faiths are represented — serves as an example for the new Syria.

 

The parties stated that the process that emerged following the collapse of the Baath regime presented a historic opportunity to end the racist laws and policies implemented in the past. However, they stressed that the authorities in Damascus had chosen to continue the same exclusionary policies instead of seizing this opportunity.

 

The joint statement emphasized that the process announced by the Damascus government under the name “Syrian People’s Assembly Elections” was not a democratic election, but rather an appointment mechanism that ignores the will of the people, stating: “This situation reproduces mechanisms of national and political exclusion. At the same time, it reinforces racist projects against the Kurds.”

 

The statement also criticized the appointment of a representative for Serêkaniyê who is associated with the “Arab Belt” policies, saying that this amounts to legitimizing demographic change policies: “In this way, an attempt is being made to present the situation in the region as normal and to ignore the consequences of demographic change projects. This is a clear indication of the bad intentions of the Damascus government.”

 

‘Four seats are unacceptable’

 

The statement described the allocation of only four seats to Kurds in the 210-seat Syrian Parliament as “a clear violation of rights,” adding: “The Kurdish people in Rojava are a historical and essential component; their population is no less than 20 percent of Syria’s total population. Today, through systematic appointments, they are being deprived of their true voice and of their right to partnership in national decision-making processes.

 

On this basis, we as Kurdish political forces and parties emphasize that we reject these appointments in every form. We see the current distribution mechanism as a continuation of racist policies aimed at eliminating the Kurdish cause.”

 

The parties stated that Kurds should be represented in parliament with at least 40 seats in proportion to their population, adding that accepting four seats would also negatively affect Kurdish representation in state institutions in the future.

 

The political parties stated: “Accepting four seats would mean politically relinquishing our rights. This would lead to Kurdish representation in ministries, judicial institutions, diplomatic missions, and senior state positions being determined according to the same understanding in the future. Any party that adopts such a stance will bear historical responsibility before the Kurdish people.

 

We publicly declare that the allocated seats do not represent the free will of the Kurdish people; no Kurdish side has the authority or mandate to accept this on behalf of the people. This situation does not serve the demand to guarantee the rights of the Kurdish people in Syria.”

 

The Kurdish parties and organizations stressed that they would continue their peaceful, people-based struggle together with all democratic forces in order to establish genuine national partnership in Syria and create a modern constitution that guarantees the legitimate rights of the Kurdish people and all components of Syrian society.

 

The joint statement was signed by a total of 24 parties and organizations, including PYD, Kongra Star, TEV-DEM, and numerous Kurdish political parties and civil formations, which are as follows:

 

*Democratic Union Party (PYD)

 

*Kongra Star

 

*Democratic Green Party

 

*Kurdish Liberal Party in Syria

 

*Kurdistan Communist Party

 

*Kurdistan Democratic Party – Syria

 

*Kurdish Democratic Party – Syria

 

*Kurdish People’s Party in Syria

 

*Kurdish Democratic Left Party in Syria

 

*Kurdistan Future Movement

 

*Kurdistan Democratic Change Party

 

*Kurdistan Renewal Movement

 

*Kurdistan Workers’ Union

 

*Syrian Democratic Accord Party

 

*Syrian Reform Movement

 

*Roj Democratic Kurdish Party in Syria

 

*Kurdistan Brotherhood Party

 

*Democratic Struggle Party

 

*Kurdistan Democratic Party – Rojava

 

*Kurdistan National Gathering Party in Syria

 

*Kurdish Democratic Party in Syria (El Parti)

 

*Kurdish Democratic Unity Party in Syria

 

*Democratic Society Movement

 

*Syrian Reformist Current