Al-Sharaa issues decree on Kurdish Rights amid military escalation
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued on Friday a decree affirming that Syrian Kurds are an integral part of the country’s population and that their cultural and linguistic heritage is inseparable from the national identity.
The presidential decree stipulates that “the state shall protect cultural and linguistic diversity and guarantee the right of Kurdish citizens to preserve their heritage, arts, and develop their language within the framework of national sovereignty.”
Article 3 of the decree recognizes the Kurdish language as a national language and allows it to be taught in public and private schools in areas where Kurds constitute a significant portion of the population, either as part of elective curricula or as a cultural-educational activity.
The decree also cancels all exceptional laws and measures resulting from the 1962 census in Hasakah governorate and grants Syrian citizenship to all citizens of Kurdish origin residing in Syria, including those previously unregistered, ensuring full equality in rights and responsibilities.
Additionally, the decree designates Nowruz (March 21) as a nationwide paid holiday, celebrating spring and national unity.
It mandates that state media and educational institutions adopt an inclusive national discourse, prohibits any form of ethnic or linguistic discrimination by law, and imposes legal penalties on those inciting sectarian or ethnic strife.
The decree represents a significant step toward formal recognition of Kurdish cultural and linguistic rights within Syria’s national framework.