Mazloum Abdi: New Understandings Reached with Government on Judicial File and Hasaka Protests

PUKMEDIA

Mazloum Abdi.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, has called on residents to remain calm and allow space for ongoing understandings with the Syrian government regarding the judicial file and recent developments linked to protests in Hasaka.

Abdi said that discussions are continuing to resolve outstanding issues, including the status of the judiciary and the signage of the courthouse in Hasaka, which has recently sparked public demonstrations over the exclusion of the Kurdish language. He stressed that there are assurances to reinstate Kurdish in a later phase, adding that the continuation of the broader integration process depends on avoiding disruption to judicial-related arrangements.

The judicial file has emerged as one of the key points of friction in implementing the 29 January agreement between the SDF and the Syrian Interim Government, with recent weeks seeing delays and disagreements over its execution. These tensions have coincided with ongoing protests in Hasaka, where demonstrators have rejected the removal of Kurdish from the courthouse sign and called for a resolution to the judicial situation in the province.

In an interview with ANHA, Abdi explained that the recent setbacks began around two weeks ago, largely due to disagreements over how judges from the Autonomous Administration would be integrated into the government system. He said concerns had been raised about safeguarding their rights and preserving the region’s specific administrative characteristics.

He noted that the reaction from judicial staff and local administration was “justified”, describing it as opposition to exclusionary practices that contradict the principle of consensual integration. According to Abdi, the lack of a clear agreement mechanism from the outset contributed to the stagnation of the process.

Following a series of meetings held in Damascus and north-eastern Syria, Abdi said understandings had been reached to integrate judges from the Autonomous Administration without exclusion. It was also agreed that some judges from previous state institutions would remain in service to ensure continuity of cases and the smooth functioning of the justice system.

He added that lists of judicial personnel from the Autonomous Administration had been submitted for inclusion in government training programmes, with plans to appoint them to courts as part of the integration process.

Abdi stressed that delays in resolving the courthouse issue are affecting a range of public services, including elections, passport issuance, land registration, and other legal procedures, noting that progress on the judicial file is key to unlocking wider administrative reforms.

On the issue of the Hasaka courthouse sign, Abdi said the government had argued that the institution is a sovereign body and that signage should be in Arabic only. He added that local representatives chose not to escalate the dispute in order to avoid further obstacles to the integration process.

He explained that an agreement had already been reached for bilingual Arabic and Kurdish signage in predominantly Kurdish cities such as Kobani, Qamishlo, Derik, Amuda, and Dirbasiyah, while the current arrangement in Hasaka was accepted temporarily pending further review.

Abdi acknowledged strong public reactions against the exclusion of Kurdish, particularly among young people, describing them as a reflection of deep sensitivity towards the preservation of the Kurdish language. He said the issue had since been revisited through ongoing talks with government representatives.

According to Abdi, there are now assurances that the courthouse signage issue in Hasaka will be addressed in the next phase, including the reinstatement of Kurdish alongside Arabic, in line with arrangements in other Kurdish-majority areas, though not immediately.

He concluded by urging residents, especially young people, to allow time for dialogue and implementation of the agreements on the ground, and to avoid actions that could hinder the integration process or delay related administrative reforms.

Abdi also expressed appreciation for the public’s commitment to preserving the Kurdish language, describing it as a source of pride, while underlining the importance of continuing efforts to secure its recognition in Syria’s future constitutional framework.


PUKMEDIA /ANHA