Statement to the Public Opinion

On the occasion of the first anniversary of the fall of the Ba’athist regime in Syria, the Democratic Autonomous-Administration of North and East Syria recalls the long decades of practices adopted by that regime during its rule, alongside policies of marginalization, tyranny, and the suppression of the free will of the Syrian people, especially the nationalists demanding democracy, change, and the establishment of a pluralistic nation worthy of the sacrifices of its people.

The years of war in Syria have been a clear example of the mentality with which the regime ruled, using the most brutal methods to confront the aspirations of Syrians for freedom and dignity. Arrests, enforced disappearances, ethnic and religious discrimination, societal fragmentation, and the looting of the country’s resources were the hallmarks of the period Syrians lived through over decades.

On this historic occasion, the Democratic Autonomous-Administration extends its warmest congratulations to the families of the martyrs who gave their lives for the freedom of Syria and the dignity of its people, and to all Syrian citizens of various components and sects of the homeland. The fall of the Ba’athist regime was, for Syrians, a long-awaited dream, and with its realization, this day has become a symbol of the victory of the people’s will, a mass celebration expressing the just aspirations toward a better future.

The departure of that tyrannical regime represented an important step toward fulfilling part of the hopes and ambitions of the Syrian people. However, the most important and longest path still lies ahead of us all, which is the serious work toward building a democratic, free, decentralized Syria, where rights are protected, differences are respected, and tyranny, injustice, and marginalization are excluded. This historic phase is the most dangerous and sensitive in the course of modern Syria, and it requires national awareness, a unifying vision, and collective action.

In this context, the Democratic Autonomous-Administration believes that the steps taken by the transitional government in Syria during the past year, starting with the national dialogue that did not include representatives from all of Syria and its components, through the formation of the government, and up to the recent parliamentary elections, did not reflect the essence of the demands of the Syrian people, nor their reality or aspirations. This is especially true of the massacres committed in the coastal areas and Sweida, which have undermined the principle of national unity and led to a dangerous societal division that encouraged hate speech, incitement, and extremism.

These actions are closer to the practices of the Ba’athist regime itself over the past half-decade, through the exclusion of national forces, a lack of transparency, monopolizing decisions, and ignoring the will of the people.

In conclusion, the Democratic Autonomous-Administration of North and East Syria affirms that the current stage requires all Syrian parties, along with the international community, to intensify efforts and work in solidarity so that Syria becomes a true platform for freedom, democracy, justice, and equality. On this occasion, we call on the transitional government to adopt a comprehensive and participatory national policy that ensures the creation of a new homeland that all Syrians deserve without exception. This can be achieved through launching a comprehensive and serious national dialogue between all Syrian representatives, ensuring the safe return of displaced persons, refugees, and IDPs, and activating rapid mechanisms to achieve the Syrian people’s goals in all areas.

Glory and eternity to the martyrs,
Freedom and democracy to the people of Syria in all its components.

7-12-2025