Serwan Zangana | Exclusive to iKurd.net

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, pledged to lift the sanctions that were imposed on Turkey in 2020 over purchasing the Russian S-400 defense missile system and intends to sell Turkey’s Erdogan the F-35 stealth fighter jet.

“We’re going to be taking the sanctions off,” Trump said. Turkey’s acquisition of the Russian air defense system, the S-400, which is an advanced system, was a U.S. concern because it could expose the F-35 fighter jet’s classified features to Russia.

However, obtaining an F-35 fighter jet by Turkey can boost the Turkish Air Force’s power in the region and replenish Erdogan’s chauvinistic mindset, and hence, the Kurds will be the first target to be attacked by the fighter jet. U.S. foreign policy under Trump’s administration became another hurricane in the world that caused disasters, and apparently, the Kurds are familiar with such a disaster.

The negative view of the world is very high as the majority of people in allied countries, according to Politico, see that the U.S. is creating more problems than solving them. In Canada, 63%, and in Germany, 52%, say that the U.S. is creating more problems than solving them.

The number in France compared to Canada and Germany is lower, but it is still high as 47% of the French view the U.S. as a problem creator while only 29% of them see it as a problem solver, and 24% of people do not see it either way.

Despite Trump’s uncertainty and being undecided on readmitting Turkey to the F-35 fighter jet program, as during a press conference at NATO he stated, “I haven’t totally made up my mind…” but he lauded Erdogan and said, “but my inclination is to say, look, he’s [Erdogan] done everything, he’s helped us in so many different ways…”

Returning to the White House for a second term, Trump has changed U.S. goals and targets, which means ending the conflict between Ukraine and Russia and the Gaza peace plan have been pushed back while the focus turned to a new conflict in the world.

The decision to lift the sanctions on Turkey and allow it to obtain the stealth fighter jet F-35 is a path paving the way for Turkey to intensify attacks on the Kurds, specifically in northeastern Syria-Rojava. Erdogan’s Turkish regime has always perceived the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as a major threat. Therefore, such a decision can be seen as a reward to Erdogan and another contribution from Trump to more disasters in the region.

It is not only the Kurds who are concerned about Turkey obtaining the F-35; Israel is another U.S. ally that is strongly opposing Trump’s idea. Israel has a strong case against Erdogan for being vocal and supporting radical Muslims in the region, and indeed, harboring the Muslim Brotherhood in Turkey.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clearly expressed his concern and opposition to the U.S. sale of F-35s to Turkey. “He threatens to destroy my country, the one and only Jewish state,” Netanyahu said about Turkish President Erdogan. Obviously, Turkey is a serious threat because of Erdogan’s intention to reinvigorate Turkish superiority and reestablish the Ottoman Empire in a modern form with a blended Turkish chauvinistic-Islamic mentality in the region.

Turkey’s threat has expanded into further areas in the region as Erdogan, in fact, positioned himself as a major power by claiming to bring peace and stability, but bloodshed has been the result of his actions. On many occasions, Turkish officials condemned Israel. Recently, the Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that Israel “has become a burden that humanity can no longer bear.”

Israel’s concern is based on a reality of Turkey’s actions in the region and further into North Africa as, in 2020, Turkey’s Grand National Assembly approved the Turkish military intervention in Libya to support the government in its civil war. Such a military intervention included recruiting mercenaries to fight in Libya’s civil war.

However, as Trump’s strategy of focusing on Iran’s threat has become a predicament for the region, he is embracing Turkey, a powerful NATO member, and indeed catering to President Erdogan to strengthen the U.S. impact in countering the Iranian regime.

Apparently, Trump attended the July 2026 NATO summit because of Turkish President Erdogan, which is a turning point with Trump’s willingness to lift the sanctions and sell the F-35 fighter jet to Turkey. “I’m going because of Erdogan,” Trump said. Furthermore, Trump praised Erdogan as a “great leader.”

President Trump’s shifting policy will not only reward Turkey, but it will also boost the chauvinistic Arabic-Islamic regime of Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa. In a letter to Syrian President al-Sharaa, Trump said that he notified Congress about his decision to remove Syria from the terrorism list, on which it was placed by the U.S. as a State Sponsor of Terrorism in 1979.

The Kurds in northeastern Syria-Rojava have been facing a different form of threats with al-Sharaa’s opposition to a decentralized government in Syria and his denial of Kurdish political rights, which has taken the SDF to a different level of struggle and challenge. Such a challenge began with Trump’s support for the new Syrian regime of al-Sharaa.

After all, Trump’s second term became an era for radical Muslims to revive under the guise of democracy.

Serwan Zangana, a contributing writer for iKurd.net, lives in Virginia, U.S. He serves as a correction officer.

The views expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of iKurd.net or its editorial team.

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ANKARA,— Washington moved Wednesday to strike Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, ending a decades-long label that had blocked foreign money from entering the country and marking a fresh show of support for Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed Congress of the widely anticipated action. Lawmakers have 45 days to try to stop it, though such a move is seen as improbable.

The announcement came as President Donald Trump held talks with Sharaa on the sidelines of a NATO gathering in Turkey.

Sharaa, a former jihadist, has worked to present himself as a leader capable of bringing the country together following the 2024 fall of the Assad family, which controlled Syria for fifty years.

Rubio called it “yet another historic step by President Trump to give the Syrian people a chance at greatness.”

He added that ending sanctions would allow Syria to attract foreign business, begin reconstruction efforts, and move toward a fresh start for its citizens.

Trump personally told Sharaa of his decision in a letter delivered after their Ankara meeting, according to a senior U.S. administration official, Reuters reported.

In the letter, seen by Reuters, Trump wrote that he had promised to clear away every obstacle blocking Syria’s recovery and said the moment had finally arrived for that promise to be fulfilled.

He told Sharaa that American companies were prepared to invest in Syria and help build a stronger, more prosperous future for the country.

Trump’s warm reception of Sharaa comes even though Israel, a longtime rival of Syria, has voiced concern and continued carrying out airstrikes inside the country.

Trump had previously called for Syria and Israel to reach a peace agreement but proceeded with the delisting even though little progress had been made on that front.

Rubio said a unified, stable Syria at peace with itself and its neighbors would benefit the wider region and the world.

Syria is looking for financial backing to recover from a brutal civil conflict, one that helped fuel the emergence of the Islamic State group and triggered a massive wave of refugees.

During the Ankara meeting, where Sharaa appeared in a suit rather than military attire, Trump praised him, saying he is “doing an unbelievable job in unifying Syria” and calling the previous government’s rule “a mess.”

Earlier sanctions relief from Trump had limited effect because Syria remained on the terrorism list, exposing companies to legal jeopardy for doing business there.

Rubio said the delisting followed written assurances from Sharaa promising Syria would not back international terrorism going forward.

With Syria removed, only Iran, North Korea and Cuba remain on the terrorism list. Cuba’s inclusion, added late in Trump’s first term, drew controversy as part of pressure on its communist government.

Syria had held the terrorism designation since 1979.

Under Bashar al-Assad and his father Hafez, the country sheltered Palestinian militant factions and was accused of involvement in incidents including a 1986 plot to bomb an El Al flight.

More recently, the designation stemmed largely from Assad’s alliance with Iran and backing of Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group.

Last month, Trump floated the idea that Sharaa’s Sunni-led Syria might step in for Israel in weakening Hezbollah.

Sharaa rejected any plan for military involvement in Lebanon, territory Syria occupied for decades under Assad rule.

Sharaa, a former Islamic radical once known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, previously had ties to al-Qaeda and ISIS and founded the al-Nusra Front before it became Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

(With files from AFP | Reuters)

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BERLIN,—The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) in a statement on Thursday has criticized the promotion of U.S. diplomat Tom Barrack to serve as Special Envoy for Syria and Iraq under President Donald Trump, saying the move worsens conditions for minorities in Syria.

Barrack previously served as the U.S. Special Envoy for Syria and as U.S. ambassador to Turkey.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio had first announced the end of his tenure in the Syria envoy role before President Donald Trump later named him to a new position.

Dr. Kamal Sido, Middle East consultant at STP, said minority groups blame Barrack for what they describe as a severe deterioration in their situation.

He said Barrack is seen as supporting Syria’s new Islamist leadership while downplaying alleged abuses against minorities and democratic groups.

Sido also criticized Barrack’s remarks suggesting that democracy is not suitable for the region, calling them concerning and dismissive of people across the Middle East.

He said such statements reflect how Western policy treats Syria and show that democratic aspirations are not being taken seriously.

He said the situation is causing growing distrust in democracy and human rights inside Syria, while the country’s new leadership is becoming more politically accepted despite continued abuses against minorities.

In the Druze province of al-Suwaida, displaced residents remain unable to return home. During violence against the Druze community in southern Syria in July 2025, thousands of homes were burned.

The Syrian regime now reports 7,144 homes destroyed.

Many people were killed in the attacks, and Druze areas outside government control remain isolated. Attacks against Druze civilians on roads leading to Damascus also continue.

In Alawite areas along the Syrian Mediterranean coast, killings and sexual violence against civilians continue, according to the STP.

In Wadi an-Nasara in western Syria, about 150,000 mostly Christian residents are facing growing pressure. Armed Islamist groups are said to move through villages at night, spreading fear among the population.

In Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava), Kurdish and Aramaic languages are being systematically removed from public signage and government buildings, despite their official status in the autonomous region.

Many Kurds also fear that agreements with Damascus will not be upheld.

STP also said thousands of Kurds, including former female fighters with the Syrian Democratic Forces who fought the Islamic State group, remain imprisoned in Damascus.

The group urged Germany and the European Union not to step back from engagement in Syria and the Middle East, saying instability and authoritarian rule increase the risk of conflict and refugee flows toward Europe.

(With files from The Society for Threatened Peoples | gfbv.de)

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VIENNA,— An Austrian court sentenced a 24-year-old Kurdish Syrian refugee to life in prison Wednesday for a 2025 knife attack in the southern town of Villach that killed a teenager and wounded five others.

A jury in the city of Klagenfurt unanimously found the man guilty of murder, five counts of attempted murder and terrorism-related offenses, media at the trial reported.

The defendant, who was not identified by name, was arrested minutes after stabbing a 14-year-old boy to death and injuring five other people with a jackknife in February 2025. He admitted carrying out the attack and pledging loyalty to Islamic State (IS/ISIS).

Prosecutors told the Klagenfurt court the man went through what they described as rapid radicalization through TikTok, a process that reportedly caught his own brother off guard, according to media covering the trial.

When the presiding judge asked through an interpreter whether he would repeat the attack if given the chance, the defendant nodded, national broadcaster ORF and news agency APA reported.

Court spokesman Christian Liebhauser-Karl told AFP the defendant said he was prepared to carry out such an act again at any time.

The defendant spoke little throughout proceedings. Strict security measures were in place, including a protective screen around him. Reporters were barred from bringing electronic devices into the courtroom.

He indicated he did not intend to appeal the sentence.

The attack marked the second deadly Islamist militant strike in Austria.

The first occurred in November 2020, when a gunman killed four people and injured 22 others in Vienna before police shot him dead.

The Klagenfurt trial, which opened Wednesday and was scheduled to run through Thursday, took place at the same time as proceedings against a 21-year-old charged with plotting an Islamist attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna in 2024, a plot that was stopped before it could be carried out.

That defendant, identified as Beran A, pleaded guilty to charges tied to the concert plot but denied other charges related to a separate alleged scheme. A ruling in that case is expected Thursday.

(With files from Reuters | AFP)

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QAMISHLO, Syrian Kurdistan,— Syrian Kurdish political parties and movements on Monday rejected the results of a parliamentary selection process organized by authorities in Damascus in Hasaka on Sunday.

The announcement followed a ballot held a day earlier to choose members of Syria’s national parliament.

Local committees formed by Syria’s electoral commission carried out the process last October to appoint two thirds of a 210 member transitional assembly.

The electoral commission itself was appointed by interim President Ahmed al Sharaa.

The selection process was conducted under a temporary constitution that does not provide for direct elections.

In Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava) and the southern province of Sweida, where Druze communities form a majority, were excluded because of tensions with Damascus.

At a press conference in Qamishlo, the main Kurdish city in northeastern Syria, representatives from 21 Kurdish political parties and movements criticized what they described as a centralized appointment system.

The groups included the Democratic Union Party, or PYD, identified as Syria’s strongest Kurdish party.

The representatives said the process reflected exclusion and marginalization through the appointment of selected figures. They stated that the individuals chosen during the process represented only themselves.

The parties and movements said a democratic Syria required an inclusive national political process that ensured fair representation and respected the free will of Syrians.

Before the ballot took place, the same groups said the mechanism failed to create a genuine democratic political system.

Nine representatives were selected on Sunday in Hasaka province, including two who were appointed by proclamation. Two additional representatives were selected in the Kobane area, also known as Ain al Arab, in Aleppo province.

The parliamentary process followed an agreement reached in January between Damascus and Kurdish authorities.

Under the agreement, Kurdish civilian and military institutions operating in northeastern Syria during the civil war would be integrated into the Syrian state.

No selection process was held in Sweida province because of continuing tensions with Damascus after sectarian violence in July last year.

Commenting on the process this month, Druze leader Hikmat al Hijri, who opposes Damascus and oversees armed factions in Sweida, repeated calls for autonomous administration in the province.

He said residents were best suited to manage their affairs and govern the region. Sharaa will appoint the remaining third of the members. Critics described the process as undemocratic.

(With files from AFP)

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HASAKA,— Voting took place Sunday in Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava), the predominantly Kurdish regions of northeastern Syria, to select representatives for the country’s transitional parliament after an agreement earlier this year to integrate the areas into the central government.

The ballot was part of a process launched last year that has faced criticism from opponents who describe it as undemocratic.

Members of local committees throughout Syria have been voting to choose lawmakers for the assembly, which will serve a renewable mandate of 30 months.

Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa is expected to appoint 70 members to the 210-seat parliament.

The remaining representatives are being selected by local committees that were appointed by the electoral commission. The commission itself was appointed by Sharaa.

State news agency SANA reported that Sunday’s vote involved seven representatives for sections of Hasakeh province.

Two additional seats in the area were filled without a vote because only two candidates sought the positions.

Voting was also underway for two parliamentary seats in the Kurdish-majority city of Kobane, also called Ain al-Arab, in Aleppo province.

In January, authorities in Damascus and Kurdish groups agreed to integrate Kurdish civilian and military institutions into the Syrian state.

During the civil war, the Kurds established a semi-autonomous administration across large areas of northeastern Syria.

The model emphasizes direct democracy, gender equality, secularism, and environmental sustainability. It has been widely recognized for advancing women’s participation in politics and local decision-making.

Several Kurdish parties criticized Sunday’s vote in a statement, saying the system used to form the legislature amounted to “nothing but an appointment process” and did not represent the “free Kurdish will.”

The parties also objected to the allocation of only four seats in the 210-member assembly to Kurds. They called for a larger number of seats to better represent Syria’s Kurdish population.

About two million Kurds live in Syria, most of them in the northeast.

In October 2025, Syria’s electoral commission announced the names of 119 assembly members out of the 140 positions to be filled through the voting process. Damascus has exclude the Kurds.

At that time, seats remained unfilled in Kurdish-held parts of Raqa and Hasaka provinces and in the Druze-majority province of Sweida because of what officials described as security reasons.

After Sunday’s vote, only Sweida, which is allocated three seats, will remain outside the process.

The situation follows sectarian violence in Sweida in July last year and tensions between Damascus and Druze leaders, including Hikmat al-Hijri, regarded as the Druze figure opposed to Damascus.

Last week, Hijri called for autonomous administration in Sweida and for the “right to self-determination.”

(With files from AFP)

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I know where the weapons are

Hendrên Sheikh Ragheb  | Exclusive to iKurd.net
Translated by iKurd.net from Kurdish Awene

Donald Trump, the President of the United States, strongly attacked the Kurds and said they have been “disappointed,” and that the weapons sent to them to be delivered to Iranian protesters have been kept by them instead.

On Monday, May 11, 2026, Donald Trump, the President of the United States, spoke at the White House about sending weapons to Iranian protesters.

He said Iranian people want to go out into the streets, but they have no weapons. He believed the Kurds would provide them with weapons, but added: “They disappointed us. The Kurds only take, take, and take.”

Trump also criticized the sympathy and trust that exists in the U.S. Congress toward the Kurds. He said the Kurds have a very strong reputation there, and that people in Congress say they fight very strongly. However, he argued: “No, they only fight well when they are paid well. That is why I am very disappointed in the Kurds.”

The above reflects the U.S. President’s remarks about the Kurds, the war in Iran, and the current situation. However, President Trump should honestly understand the truth: why are the Kurds not cooperating with you?

For forty years, the Kurds and the United States have been building trust and a strong relationship. They have taken many important steps together and achieved rare and significant successes. Together, they have passed through extremely difficult situations and shared struggles, change, and challenges.

However, after you began your second term as president, you appointed Tom Barrack, who is of Arab origin, as the U.S. ambassador to Turkey and your representative in Syria.

That is when the Turks “hacked” Tom Barrack. With his involvement and what is described as his betrayal, the Western Kurdistan entity collapsed. Everything that had been built over forty years was destroyed. That is why the Kurds took a very serious and significant position after the collapse of the Western entity.

Do you know, President Trump, that the late Ali Larijani, Iran’s top official after the Supreme Leader, said in a press interview that the Kurds do not cooperate with the United States and do not attack the Iranian regime because the U.S. betrayed and “sold” them in Syria.

For that reason, the Kurds in Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey are not fighting Iran on behalf of the United States.

If you had watched Larijani’s interview, Mr. President, you would not have spoken about disappointment in the Kurds or lost hope in them. Instead, you should call your representative and ask why he damaged the image and reality of the United States in the Middle East and Kurdistan.

I am telling you clearly: the Kurds in Iran are not afraid. They are afraid of betrayal after the fall of a regime, like what was done in Aleppo and in eastern Euphrates. The Kurds are not afraid of Iranian missiles or drones; they are afraid of the “dagger of betrayal” from Tom Barrack.

Now do not ask the Kurds for hope or weapons, because the weapons are with Tom Barrack and are entirely in his possession. Ask him and call him to find out what he did with those weapons. If it turns out that Tom Barrack is not aware of the weapons, then the situation is even worse, because what kind of U.S. representative in this region is unaware of the arrival and location of U.S. weapons?

President Trump, Tom Barrack has damaged the real strategy and position of the United States in the Middle East. How it can be corrected is up to you and your administration. We do not know.

Hendrên Sheikh Ragheb, a writer from Sulaimani, Iraqi Kurdistan.

This article was originally published in the Kurdish language in Awene Newspaper on May 11, 2026.

The opinions are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of iKurd.net or its editors.

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QAMISHLO,— A steady flow of Kurdish applicants filled a registration center set up inside a sports stadium hall in Qamishlo in Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava), where many gathered to seek Syrian citizenship after decades without legal recognition.

Among them was Firas Ahmad, who said the absence of citizenship had defined his family’s life. Holding papers and waiting in line, the 49-year-old described the limitations he faced.

“A person without citizenship is considered as good as dead,” he told AFP. He said he could not officially register his children or property. His grandfather also lived without citizenship, and the situation continued across generations.

Since last week, stateless Kurds have been arriving at centers across Syria following directions from the interior ministry. The new process allows individuals classified as “unregistered” to apply for citizenship.

Tables inside the hall were covered with forms, identification photos and older documents. Officials worked through long lines, recording details from applicants.

The policy follows a January decree issued by Islamist interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, granting citizenship to Kurds residing in Syria, including those excluded for decades.

The decree also affirms Kurdish cultural rights and recognizes the Kurdish language at the national level.

The announcement came after fighting between Kurdish forces and Syrian government Islamist troops.

Kurdish groups had controlled large areas in the northeast before reaching an agreement to merge their administration into the state.

As part of that arrangement, government troops entered Hasaka and Qamishlo in February.

In March, Kurdish commander Sipan Hamo was named assistant defense minister for the eastern region.

For years, the lack of citizenship limited basic rights. Many Kurds were unable to register births, claim property ownership, travel freely, study or secure employment.

“We suffered greatly,” said Galya Kalash, a mother of five. Speaking in Kurdish, she said her children could not complete school and the family was unable to travel. Their home remains unregistered.

The issue dates back to a 1962 census in Hasaka province that stripped about one fifth of Syria’s Kurds of nationality. Syria’s Kurdish population is estimated at around two million, mainly in the northeast.

Ali Mussa, from the Network of Statelessness Victims in Hasaka, told AFP that about 150,000 people remain without registration. He urged authorities to apply the new rules with flexibility and consider the situation of those living abroad.

He said some refugees in Europe may face difficulties returning due to their legal status or concerns about travel disruptions linked to regional conflict.

Authorities said the registration period is expected to last one month, with the possibility of an extension.

Abdallah al-Abdallah, a government civil affairs official, said obtaining citizenship is the main form of redress for those affected after years without legal status.

At the center, Mohammed Ayo, 56, explained how the lack of citizenship affected his daily life. He said he could not obtain a driver’s license or reserve a hotel room in Damascus because of required approvals.

“You study for many years, and in the end they say you have no certificate,” he said. After completing high school, he was unable to obtain documents needed for university.

He added that stateless individuals were excluded from voting and running for public office.

Established in 2018, the Autonomous Administration in Syrian Kurdistan oversees the region based on a system of democratic confederalism.

The Rojava model focuses on direct public participation, gender equality, secular governance and environmental protection. It has gained recognition for encouraging women to take part in political roles and community-level decision-making.

(With files from AFP)

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ABU DHABI/ERBIL,— The United Arab Emirates strongly condemned Iran’s missile attacks on military sites in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, which killed and wounded dozens of Kurdish Peshmerga fighters.

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs called in a statement the strikes an unprovoked act of terrorism, labeling them a dangerous escalation and a clear violation of international law.

The ministry emphasized its full support for Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government, and backed all measures to protect security, safeguard citizens, and maintain stability.

Condolences were extended to the families of the martyrs, the governments, and the people of Iraq and Kurdistan, along with wishes for a rapid recovery for those injured.

Political analysts stressed that the UAE’s condemnation is driven by regional rivalry with Iran.

Henase Karim told iKurd.net News that Tehran has repeatedly striking UAE with missiles and drones since the US-Israel conflict with Iran.

She said the UAE’s statement reflects strategic calculation, not sympathy for the Kurds, noting, “That is why the UAE condemned the attacks, it is about Iran, not about supporting the Kurdish nation, Iran is not a Sunni Arab country.”

Karim also pointed to the UAE’s silence during previous attacks on Kurds in Syrian Kurdistan. In January 2026, Islamist militias under the Syrian interim government killed Kurdish civilians in Aleppo and Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava).

She said, the UAE did not specifically condemn the Syrian government’s attacks and mass killings on the non-Muslim minorities of Druze or Alawites. Instead, the UAE’s public stance has been more aligned with defending Syrian sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Human rights organizations tracking the conflict in Syrian Kurdistan report widespread atrocities against Kurdish civilians, including mass executions, sexual violence, arbitrary detentions, and the public sharing of abuse videos on social media.

Gulf Arab media framed Kurdish SDF forces as “terrorists” and separatists, ignoring civilian casualties.

Analysts highlighted that most Arab and Islamic states rarely denounce violence against Syrian Kurds.

Some even praised Syrian president Sharra, aka Golani, militants for killing Kurds.

In response, Iraqi Kurdistan banned several Arabic channels, including Al Arabiya, Al Hadath, and Al Jazeera, citing persistent anti-Kurdish bias.

The UAE’s statement is one of the few public Arab condemnations of attacks affecting Kurdish forces, reflecting geopolitical strategy and its broader opposition to Iran rather than genuine support for Kurdish communities.

The ruling Barzani clan in Iraqi Kurdistan maintains strong ties with UAE ruler and President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Reports indicate the Barzani family holds significant investments in the UAE, reinforcing the political and economic links behind the UAE’s stance.

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ERBIL,— Prominent Syrian Kurdish political leader Salih Muslim died at the age of 75 on Wednesday in a hospital in Iraqi Kurdistan region after suffering from health problems, his party said.

Within the Kurdish community he was widely respected and played a major role in shaping Kurdish politics in Syria.

The PYD said in a statement that Muslim had spent his life working for the interests of his people and protecting what it described as their legitimate rights.

The party added that he died in a hospital in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region, after what it described as a long battle with illness.

Friends, supporters and members of the party gathered outside the hospital after news of his death to say goodbye to the longtime Kurdish figure.

A party official said Muslim’s body would be transported on Thursday to Syrian Kurdistan, where he will be buried.

Muslim was born in 1951 in the Kurdish city of Kobane, a place that later became known as a symbol of Kurdish fighters’ victory against Islamic State group militants in Syria.

After finishing secondary school in Syria, Muslim began studying chemical engineering at Istanbul Technical University in 1970 and graduated in 1977.

Following a short period in London, he worked as an engineer in Saudi Arabia from 1978 until 1990. In 1993 he opened an engineering office in the Syrian city of Aleppo.

The veteran Kurdish leader Muslim joined the Democratic Union Party PYD in 2003 shortly after it was formed and later became a member of its executive council.

In March 2004 he wrote a letter to Syrian President Bashar al Assad reacting to the Qamishlo massacre. Authorities arrested him after the letter and he spent seven months in prison.

During the Syrian civil war in 2012, Muslim helped establish the semi autonomous Kurdish region in northeast Syria. Kurdish groups in recent years have made concessions to Syria’s new Islamist authorities.

Turkey considers the PYD and its armed wing, the People’s Protection Units, or YPG, to be linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which has carried out a long insurgency against the Turkish state.

On October 9, 2013, Muslim’s son Shervan, a fighter with the YPG, was killed west of Gre Spi (Tel Abyad) in clashes with Islamic State militants ISIS. He was buried in Kobane during a public funeral attended by thousands of people.

The Autonomous Administration runs the Rojava region under a system based on democratic confederalism.

The framework promotes direct public participation in governance, gender equality, secular values and protection of the environment. It has also gained recognition for increasing the role of women in political life and in local decision making.

(With files from AFP | Agencies)

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