Presidential team says SDF detainees file to be resolved before Eid al-Adha
HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – Ahmad al-Hilali, spokesperson for Syria’s presidential team overseeing the implementation of the agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), on Thursday said that the Syrian government is continuing work on the file of detainees affiliated with the SDF, expecting it to be concluded before Eid al-Adha.
In a statement to North Press, al-Hilali said the government is conducting a final count of SDF detainees, adding that “the goal is to close this file before Eid al-Adha.”
On the Hasakah Justice Palace issue, al-Hilali described the matter as “purely legal,” noting that the temporary constitutional declaration stipulates the continued enforcement of existing laws, under which Arabic remains the state’s only official language.
He added that the Justice Palace holds a special status as a sovereign symbol representing the judiciary, and that the Ministry of Justice views the issue as a legal matter that “can only be resolved through legal frameworks.”
Al-Hilali added that Presidential Decree No. 13 issued by President Ahmad al-Sharaa marked an important step for the Kurdish language after recognizing it as a national language and allowing its learning and teaching, opening broader prospects for its future use.
He pointed out that several institutions in Hasakah have already adopted bilingual Arabic-Kurdish signage.
Responding to a North Press question on the Arab Belt policy and the 1962 census, al-Hilali said there are no new developments. He explained that addressing the census’s repercussions is being handled through restoring citizenship to those previously registered as “foreigners” or “unregistered,” in line with Decree 13.
The Arab Belt issue, he noted, will be addressed through legal pathways, allowing citizens to resort to the judiciary once the justice system in Hasakah is fully operational.
Regarding the return of displaced residents of Ras al-Ain (Sere Kaniye), al-Hilali said their return requires a safe environment, noting that security concerns remain on both sides. He said efforts are underway to address these concerns by strengthening the capacity of Internal Security Forces in Hasakah and completing the integration of Asayish members into the internal security structure.