Statement issued by
Dr. Majid Al-Rukabi
High Commissioner for the Middle East and North Africa
International Organization for Human Rights and Refugee Affairs
The High Commissioner for the Middle East and North Africa, Dr. Majid Al-Rukabi, welcomes and appreciates Decree No. (13) of 2026 issued by the President of the Syrian Arab Republic, Ahmad Al-Shara, which affirmed that Syrian Kurdish citizens are an essential and integral part of the Syrian people, and that their cultural and linguistic identity constitutes an inseparable part of the diverse and unified Syrian national identity.
This decree is considered a positive and significant step in promoting the principles of equal citizenship, recognizing cultural and linguistic diversity, and addressing historical issues that have affected a large segment of Syrian citizens, particularly those related to the annulment of the 1962 census effects and the exceptional measures that followed.
The High Commissioner specifically appreciates:
-
The explicit acknowledgment of the cultural and linguistic identity of Syrian Kurds,
-
Recognition of the Kurdish language as a national language,
-
Declaring Nowruz as an official national holiday,
-
Emphasizing the prohibition of discrimination and criminalization of hate speech and national incitement.
Dr. Majid Al-Rukabi emphasizes that the value of this decree can only be fully realized through its effective and transparent implementation, ensuring its translation into tangible legal and administrative measures that guarantee full equality in rights and duties for all citizens without exception.
He also stresses the importance of adopting a unifying national discourse that promotes civil peace, protects the unity of Syrian society, and safeguards human dignity and fundamental rights, as this is considered the foundation for any sustainable stability.
In this context, the International Organization for Human Rights and Refugee Affairs, through its High Commissioner for the Middle East and North Africa, reaffirms its readiness to support this human rights path, monitor the implementation of its outcomes, serve justice, enhance trust, and support a future based on respect for pluralism and citizenship.
Issued on
16 January 2026
Dr. Majid Al-Rukabi
High Commissioner for the Middle East and North Africa
International Organization for Human Rights and Refugee Affairs
