Yusuf Koti: parties threaten social peace; integration process in Syria

Al-Hasakah Governorate and the wider al-Jazira region have witnessed growing reactions following the killing of Siban Hazni, a fighter in the al-Hasakah Brigade, amid popular, social, and political calls to uncover the circumstances of the crime, hold those responsible accountable, and bring them to justice. This comes as hate speech and incitement against the Kurdish people have intensified on social media platforms.

The assassination of Siban Hazni in recent days has sparked a wave of reactions across various cities in al-Jazira, including the organization of protest gatherings and the issuance of statements condemning the incident, demanding that its circumstances be uncovered and those responsible brought before the courts.

Political and tribal figures have expressed their rejection of the attack targeting Siban Hazni, warning that such incidents could return the region to a cycle of war between the components of Syrian society. They stressed the need to hold those responsible accountable through the law and judiciary, away from revenge and retaliation.

Civil and government institutions have warned against exploiting the incident to fuel tensions among the region’s communities, calling for the rejection of hate speech and attempts to undermine social peace. They stressed that the incident targets the integration process between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the transitional government.

“The incident was carried out with a racist and chauvinistic mindset”

In this context, Yusuf Koti, head of the Union of Intellectuals of al-Jazira, told ANHA agency that the assassination of Siban Hazni in al-Hasakah Governorate was one of a number of incidents carried out with a completely racist and chauvinistic mindset and in the name of revenge.

Koti questioned the absence of justice and accountability, stressing that such crimes cannot be accepted in the name of revenge. He said: “How many people will be killed in the name of incitement, revenge, and calls for accountability, especially with thousands of people belonging to terrorist organizations?”

Koti pointed out that Syria is going through a sensitive phase, describing the assassination of Siban Hazni as “an unforgivable act with very negative implications for the Kurdish people.” He said that, amid the declaration of a phase of peace in Syria, “why are chauvinistic people emerging?” He noted that these individuals are known to the state and to the tribes themselves.

Call for all components of Syrian society to stand together

Koti stressed that the assassination of Siban Hazni had a significant impact on people from various backgrounds. He called for confronting crimes targeting members of the Kurdish people through solidarity among all components of Syrian society, with all its different groups and communities, while working to curb hate speech.

Koti called for an end to bloodshed in Syria, noting that the Syrian people had suffered immensely in recent years. He called for an end to attacks against other communities in the name of the “Arab state,” arguing that Syria’s history shows that it belongs to all its components.

“There are forces seeking to eliminate social peace”

The head of the Union of Intellectuals of al-Jazira said there are “forces seeking to impose themselves on Syria’s sovereign decision-making and eliminate social peace,” pointing to “the Turkish state and its intelligence services” among these parties, which he accused of opposing the Kurdish people obtaining their rights in the new Syria.

“Al-Sharaa said the Kurds are an essential part of the Syrian people”

Koti referred to transitional government head Ahmed al-Sharaa’s remarks about the Kurds, in which he said they are “an essential part of the Syrian people.” He asked: “Since the Kurdish people are an essential part of the Syrian people, why are the Kurds subjected to these campaigns?” He also questioned the reasons behind the assassination of Siban Hazni and the treatment of Kurds in this manner.

Koti stressed that the Kurdish people are no different from other communities and that they constitute the second-largest ethnic group in Syria, with a presence across different parts of the country.

Koti questioned the continued hate speech against the Kurdish people by certain figures who speak in the name of Arab tribes. He said these figures “continuously threaten the Kurds with killing and extermination,” adding that such messages are “not good for Syria’s future.” He called on the transitional government to embrace all components of Syrian society.

“The parliament does not truly represent the Kurdish people”

Yusuf Koti also addressed the mechanism for selecting Syria’s new parliament, saying that the Syrian parliament “does not truly represent the Kurdish people,” whether in terms of parliamentary representation or their rights as an essential component of the Syrian people.

He stressed the need for Kurds to be present in all government institutions “as a Kurdish component” in order to preserve their presence. He noted that Kurds are present in various Syrian cities and considered their presence in government institutions a natural right, as they are part of the Syrian people and are present throughout the country’s geography.

He also called for Kurdish representation in the Syrian parliament with a Syrian Kurdish identity and for the proposal of projects that genuinely represent the Kurdish people.

“The Government must stop incitement”

Koti called on the transitional government to reassess its approach and establish an expanded council representing all Syrians, and to work on drafting a new constitution for the country. He also called on the government to play its role in curbing the growing hate speech targeting the Kurdish people, particularly rhetoric targeting Kurds on social media by individuals known to the government, which he said had intensified following the killing of Siban Hazni.

Koti warned of the dangers posed by the spread of hate speech, saying that its continuation could push the country toward the brink and back into civil war.

“Kurdish parties are threatening social peace and the integration process”

At the same time, Koti said there are also Kurdish parties that, in his words, participate in hate speech and undermine social peace in the region, potentially returning it to a cycle of war.

Koti accused these parties of having interests in maintaining instability in the country and the region and of opposing the integration process. He also accused some of them of being affiliated with Turkish intelligence and seeking to undermine the integration process.

Koti called on all parties to stand together to ensure the success of the integration process, confront anyone seeking to return the country to war or incite against the Kurdish people, and prevent the country from entering a new phase of undermining social peace.

He stressed that the transitional government bears the greatest responsibility for curbing hate speech and attempts to undermine social peace.

“The Kurdish people live on their historic land”

At the conclusion of his remarks, Yusuf Koti, head of the Union of Intellectuals of al-Jazira, praised the Kurdish people, saying that they have lived for thousands of years on their historic land despite attempts targeting their existence, culture, and identity.

He added that the Kurdish people today want to feel a sense of Syrian identity alongside their Kurdish national identity. He said: “The Kurdish people have lived on this land and will continue to grow and build their future on it. Therefore, we hope that the other communities will stand alongside the Kurdish people.”

Yusuf Koti concluded by pointing to voices from the Arab community calling for an end to fighting between Arabs and Kurds and urging that the region not be turned back into “a lake of blood.”

ANHA