Ilham Ahmad, Co-Chair of the Department of External Relations in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, and Rohlat Afrin, member of the General Command of the Women’s Protection Units, held a press conference in Brussels ahead of their participation in a meeting at the European Parliament dedicated to discussing the latest developments in Rojava and Turkey under the title “The Kurds and Turkey.” This came on the sidelines of their visit to the European Parliament today, Wednesday (25 February 2026).
European support for the Kurds and calls for guarantees to implement the agreement
Ilham Ahmad confirmed that a meeting was held in the European Union to support the Kurds, explaining that the meeting was extremely important for Rojava and the Kurds. She said: “The meeting was very important for us. Supporting the Kurds in Rojava and the steps being taken is support for democracy, freedom, and justice.”
She pointed out that the most prominent outcomes of the meeting included emphasizing the building of a new Syria that includes all its components, adding: “The decisions issued by the meeting confirm the determination to build a new Syria in which all the peoples of Syria live in freedom; and above all, the emphasis on resolving the Kurdish issue whose rights were violated for years under the Syrian regime.”
She explained that she had requested the European Union to provide guarantees for the continuity of the agreement between the Syrian Democratic Forces and Damascus, noting that the implementation mechanism remains unclear. She added: “In these meetings, we want to make our voice heard so that there will be a guarantee for this integration that is taking place, but the guarantee mechanism is still unclear.”
She also stressed the need to enshrine Kurdish rights in the Syrian constitution, affirming: “Above all, the issue of the constitution, enshrining Kurdish rights in the constitution, and self-administration for Kurdish areas are part of our agreement, and we must know how they will be implemented.”
Warning of inciting rhetoric and delays in implementing the agreement’s provisions
Ilham Ahmad pointed to the existence of inciting and hostile rhetoric from some parties and media outlets, stressing that such rhetoric will not serve a solution. She said: “We are in negotiations to resolve the problems, but hate speech is still ongoing.”
In the same context, she explained that many provisions of the agreement have not yet been implemented, noting that the Kurds do not effectively participate in state institutions and that their constitutional rights have not yet been guaranteed.
She also considered the attack on areas under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces as targeting the democratic experience, saying: “In North and East Syria, there was a democracy that guaranteed the rights of women and components. It was an attack on all these values.”
Afrin file and the return of the displaced
Regarding Afrin, Ilham Ahmad stressed during discussions with the interim government the need for the Kurds to have a role in administering the area, while creating appropriate conditions for the return of the displaced. She explained that the appointment of the new official in Afrin, Khayro al-Ali al-Dawoud, was not coordinated with the Autonomous Administration.
She pointed out that around 180,000 Kurds are still displaced, confirming that efforts are underway to return them, and added that 400 families are currently being prepared to return as a first batch to their areas.
Concerns over the return of ISIS and a possible US withdrawal
Ilham Ahmad warned of the risk of an ISIS resurgence, explaining: “After the prisons were handed over to Damascus, ISIS began to spread again in the region. In Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, and some other areas, ISIS activities have increased significantly.”
She also expressed concern about the possible withdrawal of US forces, adding: “It seems that America may have made its decision to withdraw. But after the withdrawal, and while the Syrian constitution has not yet been rewritten, it is unclear what the fate of the Kurds and other components living in the region will be. There are no guarantees in this regard so far.”
Praise for the Kurdistan Region’s support and a call for Kurdish unity
In a related context, Ilham Ahmad pointed to the possibility of benefiting from the experience of the Kurdistan Region in the fields of administration and local governance, despite demographic differences, praising the Region’s role in supporting Rojava, especially President Masoud Barzani, and stressing the importance of continuing this support.
She also stressed the need to unify the Kurdish position in all parts of Kurdistan to confront current challenges, affirming that the European Union is capable of playing an important role in preventing a return to escalation.
Rohlat Afrin: The Women’s Protection Units are the guarantor of women’s achievements
For her part, Rohlat Afrin affirmed that the achievements made were the result of the sacrifices of the Kurdish people, stressing the need to protect these gains. She said that the women’s military force must be part of the Syrian army, affirming that achieving stability requires recognition of women’s military role and its organization within the official institution.
She explained that the Women’s Protection Units represent the main guarantor of women’s achievements, noting that it was agreed to form four brigades affiliated with the Syrian Democratic Forces. She stressed the necessity for the Women’s Protection Units to be present within these brigades and to form a special regiment, confirming that negotiations are still ongoing in this regard.
She also stressed the importance of supporting the path of agreement and integration with Damascus in a way that prevents the return of war, affirming the need for continued international efforts to ensure the implementation of the agreement and maintain stability in the region.
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