On the seventh anniversary of the martyrdom of Kurdish politician Hevrin Khalaf, the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) stressed the necessity of revealing the truth behind her assassination and holding the perpetrators accountable. The Council emphasized that achieving justice and obtaining redress for victims constitute the foundation for establishing the rule of law and building a pluralistic, democratic state.
In a statement issued today, Monday, October 12, 2026, the Council pointed out that Hevrin Khalaf—Secretary-General of the Future Syria Party and member of the Presidential Council of the SDC—was assassinated on October 12, 2019, by members of Turkish-backed Syrian factions during the military offensive and occupation of the cities of Ras al-Ayn (Sere Kaniye) and Tell Abiad.
The statement clarified that the seventh anniversary of Hevrin Khalaf’s martyrdom serves to recall a crime that targeted a civilian political figure within the context of the attacks and violations that characterized that period.
It added that Hevrin Khalaf believed in the importance of political action to strengthen relations among the components of Syrian society and in the necessity of women’s participation in public life, based on a vision rooted in dialogue, openness, and recognition of diversity. The statement noted that her career was linked to the pursuit of building a pluralistic, democratic Syria that guarantees the participation of its people in determining their future and safeguards the rights of its various components.
The SDC affirmed that the principles associated with Hevrin Khalaf’s journey remain relevant to the imperatives of the current phase—foremost among them building a decentralized, pluralistic, democratic state based on political participation and equal citizenship, which safeguards the rights and freedoms of all Syrian components and ensures women’s participation in decision-making.
The Council stressed that building a Syria that accommodates all its citizens requires overcoming exclusion and the monopoly of power, as well as consolidating partnership and respecting the rights of all.
Furthermore, it underscored the necessity of uncovering the truth regarding the assassination of Hevrin Khalaf, holding the perpetrators accountable, and bringing them to fair trials to ensure they do not escape impunity.
In the same context, the Council stressed the need to hold accountable those responsible for the crimes and violations witnessed in Syria, including the crimes committed by figures of the former regime, while taking into account the specific nature of each crime and its associated facts.
It concluded by noting that achieving justice, redressing victims and their families, and guaranteeing their right to know the truth constitute the foundation for embedding the rule of law and constructing a pluralistic, democratic state that protects the dignity and rights of Syrians and ensures that crimes and violations are not repeated.
Note: This text is translated from the original Arabic version… Read the Arabic version:Click here
