UK Member of Parliament Feryal Clark raised serious concerns over the escalating violence and deepening humanitarian crisis in north-east Syria, warning of a growing sense of abandonment felt by Kurdish communities who played a decisive role in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS).
In statements published 21 hours ago, Clark said she raised the issue during Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) in the UK Parliament, urging the Government to uphold the rights and protections guaranteed to minorities under international agreements. She stated:
“I raised urgent concerns about the escalating violence and humanitarian crisis in north-east Syria… and pressed the Government on the need to uphold the rights and protections promised to minorities under international agreements.”
Clark said she welcomed the response from the Deputy Prime Minister, expressing appreciation for the commitment to continue working with international partners to pursue stability, accountability, and the protection of civilians.
In a separate statement, the MP confirmed that she met with the UK Foreign Secretary and the Middle East Minister, alongside Peray Ahmet, Cllr Ergin Erbil, and Sarbaz Barznji, to discuss the growing sense of abandonment among Kurdish communities in Syria, as well as what she described as “serious and disturbing accounts of atrocities” being reported on the ground.
She noted that the Foreign Secretary committed to seeking a way through the crisis and assured her that her concerns would be fed directly into ongoing diplomatic efforts, stressing:
“At a time of rising instability, words must be matched by sustained action.”
Clark reaffirmed her determination to continue pushing for real accountability, the upholding of international law, and the protection of civilians, vulnerable Kurdish communities, and other minorities as they are once again caught in the crossfire.
These statements come amid a large-scale military campaign carried out by the Syrian Arab Army and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, targeting predominantly Kurdish areas. According to human rights organizations, the campaign has resulted in the killing, enforced disappearance, and detention of thousands of Kurdish civilians and fighters, alongside the documentation of other serious violations, occurring under conditions of near-total media blackout and the absence of effective, independent mechanisms for investigation and accountability.
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