Afrin MP pledges to push for Kurds’ rights in Syrian parliament
AFRIN, Syria (North Press) – A newly elected member of Syria’s People’s Assembly representing the Afrin region in northwestern Aleppo on Tuesday said that securing constitutional guarantees for Kurdish rights and expanding Kurdish-language education will be among his top priorities in parliament, alongside advancing local governance reforms and supporting farmers in Afrin.
Speaking to North Press, Mohammed Sido said lawmakers representing the region would work to fulfill the commitments outlined in their election platform, stressing that issues related to local administration, education, and the rights of the Kurdish people would be central to their parliamentary agenda.
Sido said he and fellow representatives intend to propose “that Afrin become an independent governorate, like Aleppo and Idlib.”
On the economic front, he emphasized the need to strengthen support for Afrin’s agricultural sector, particularly olive growers, saying assistance should help farmers remain on their land and improve long-term stability in the region.
The lawmaker also underscored the importance of ensuring the teaching of the Kurdish language in schools and developing a dedicated Kurdish curriculum, in line with the provisions of Presidential Decree No. 13.
Sido said there have been commitments to enshrine Kurdish rights in Syria’s future constitution, adding that Kurds, alongside all other Syrians, seek a state founded on freedom, democracy, and equal partnership among all of its communities.
He concluded by arguing that the provisions contained in Presidential Decree No. 13—particularly those related to the Kurdish language and Kurdish rights—require constitutional safeguards. He said lawmakers would work through upcoming constitutional committee discussions to ensure these rights are formally incorporated into Syria’s constitution.