{"id":129563,"date":"2025-09-11T10:07:33","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T10:07:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/npasyria.com\/en\/?p=129563"},"modified":"2025-09-11T10:07:39","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T10:07:39","slug":"postponed-syrian-elections-face-criticism-over-legitimacy-exclusion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/npasyria.com\/en\/129563\/","title":{"rendered":"Postponed Syrian elections face criticism over legitimacy, exclusion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) \u2013 <\/strong>The Syrian transitional government\u2019s decision to postpone parliamentary elections\u2014originally scheduled for mid-September in Suwayda, Hasakah, and Raqqa\u2014until \u201cappropriate conditions and a safe environment\u201d are in place has drawn mixed reactions across political and social circles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Legal and cultural experts have criticized the move as a case of \u201cdeliberate exclusion\u201d of large parts of Syria, arguing that it renders the electoral process \u201cdevoid of legitimacy.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Illegitimate elections<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Khaled Jabr, a lawyer and legal expert from Hasakah, told North Press that the elections announced by Damascus \u201cdo not reflect the people\u2019s will\u201d and instead entrench \u201canother form of dictatorship under a different guise.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jabr explained: \u201cThe Damascus government monopolizes decision-making, excluding the people from every process\u2014whether drafting a transitional constitution, forming transitional justice bodies, or even appointing the president. All these measures constitute clear violations of the law.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added that the regions of North and East Syria \u201care not at all concerned with this electoral mechanism imposed by Damascus, as there is ongoing pressure to exclude them from participation. Essentially, the government seeks to reinforce authoritarianism, far removed from democracy and human rights.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jabr also warned that rising rhetoric of incitement and hatred against Syrian communities carries serious risks of cementing new forms of dictatorship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On August 24, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) urged the international community and the United Nations not to recognize the planned parliamentary elections, arguing they do not reflect the will of Syrians and contradict the principles of a political solution under UN Resolution 2254.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The statement emphasized that unilateral decisions without genuine participation of all Syrian communities cannot be binding in North and East Syria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shadow lists and exclusion  <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Abdulwahab Birani, a researcher from Hasakah, said the electoral scene has remained largely unchanged for over five decades, with communities and representatives excluded through pre-prepared \u201cshadow lists.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He noted, \u201cElections cannot be legitimate without a genuine civil constitution that represents all communities and the Syrian people as a whole.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Birani criticized the exclusion of major governorates such as Suwayda, Hasakah, and Raqqa under \u201ca flimsy security pretext,\u201d describing it as repeated marginalization that prevents the new parliament from representing Syrians or fulfilling their aspirations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marginalization of women<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fairoz Rashk, co-chair of the Intellectuals Union in Hasakah, said the elections continue a longstanding pattern of exclusion. She highlighted that the lack of recognition of the AANES and the obstruction of ongoing negotiations excludes three entire governorates, stripping the electoral process of legitimacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rashk also criticized the allocation of only 20 percent of parliamentary seats to women as insufficient, reflecting further marginalization of women in political life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis policy excludes entire communities. Such elections will not represent the Syrian people, particularly the regions of North and East Syria,\u201d She concluded.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reporting by Dilsoz Youssef<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Editig by Jwan Shekaki<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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