NES rights groups reject “Madaniya” report as biased
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Several human rights organizations in North and East Syria issued on Wednesday a joint statement condemning a recent report by the Syrian civil society organization “Madaniya,” accusing it of misrepresenting the situation in the region and undermining efforts to preserve social stability.
Days earlier, Madaniya released a statement claiming that multiple forces across Syria had committed violations that deepened political and geographic fragmentation, naming the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as a primary party. The statement drew criticism from local activists who called for “more neutrality and less political bias,” describing the document as “closer to political conditions than civil work.”
In their response, the rights groups said civil actors carry an increasing responsibility amid Syria’s fragile landscape and ongoing social divisions. “In such a delicate moment, a civil stance becomes crucial to protecting civil peace, strengthening justice and preventing any slide toward hatred or renewed conflict,” the statement said.
The organizations added they had followed Madaniya’s Nov. 27 statement with concern, noting what they described as “critical issues” that affect the role of a platform representing more than 250 organizations across Syria. They argued the wording used by Madaniya applied inconsistent labels to affected populations, referring to those displaced from Ras al-Ain, Afrin, and Tel Abyad as “forcibly displaced,” while describing those displaced from areas in northeast Syria as “migrants,” disregarding widely recognized international standards.
The groups also said the Madaniya report adopted an “imbalanced and selective” approach by focusing at length on alleged violations in AANES-held areas while overlooking broad patterns of abuse in regions controlled by other actors, including the Syrian Transitional Government’s forces and other armed groups. They cited repeated checkpoint closures and identity-based arbitrary arrests in those areas, which they said were ignored in the Madaniya document.
At the end of their statement, the rights organizations called on Madaniya to review, withdraw and apologize for its report, urging the group to return to a framework that reflects its stated commitment to independence and objectivity. They also emphasized the need to consider the sensitivity of the context in North and East Syria and avoid contributing, “even unintentionally,” to fueling hate speech or reinforcing exclusion.