Ilham Ahmad, YPJ commander urge EU to guarantee Kurdish rights in Syria

.@ElhamAhmadSDC (right), AANES Foreign Relations Co-Chair, Evin Incir (middle), member of the European Parliament, and @RohilatAfrin (left), Commander of the YPJ in a press conference in Brussels on Feb. 25, 2026. – K24
.@ElhamAhmadSDC (right), AANES Foreign Relations Co-Chair, Evin Incir (middle), member of the European Parliament, and @RohilatAfrin (left), Commander of the YPJ in a press conference in Brussels on Feb. 25, 2026. – K24

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Ilham Ahmad, Co-Chair of the Department of Foreign Relations of the Kurdish Autonomous Administration, and Rohlat Afrin, Commander of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), addressed on Wednesday the European Parliament in Brussels, calling for constitutional guarantees for Kurds and warning of ongoing ISIS threats.

Opening the session, Evin Incir of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats stressed that integration in Syria must respect Kurdish rights.

Ahmad underscored that constitutional recognition of Kurdish rights is essential to building a new Syria. She highlighted the Kurdish role in the fight against ISIS and said stronger international support is needed to ensure meaningful participation in shaping the country’s future.

She warned that ISIS remains active, citing recent movements by the group, and stressed that military restructuring and integration must be handled carefully.

Ahmad also criticized limiting Kurdish-language education to two hours, calling for mother-tongue education to be enshrined as a constitutional right.

Addressing the Kurdish region of Afrin in northwestern Syria, Ahmad said about 50,000 residents remain displaced and that the city’s security and administration should be managed by its own people.

She called for Kurdish representation in state institutions and for a decentralized system with a regional administration and special security arrangements in Rojava.

The Kurdish official urged the establishment of an international monitoring mechanism to safeguard rights and prevent future violations.

Rohlat Afrin warned that the absence of guarantees could open the door to renewed attacks. She said women face marginalization under the current system and stressed the need for comprehensive protection of women’s rights.

She described the YPJ as a model for safeguarding women and called on the European Union to support effective guarantees.

Both officials reiterated that ISIS remains a persistent threat and called for clear mechanisms to implement European Parliament resolutions on Kurdish protection.