DEM Party calls to invite Mazloum Abdi and İlham Ahmed to Turkey

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has named former Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander Ferhat Abdi Şahin, also known as Mazloum Abdi, as a presidential adviser, signaling a pivotal moment in Syria’s post-Bashar Assad transition. The appointment, formalized in a decree signed by al-Sharaa and published by state news agency SANA, came just days after Abdi announced the dissolution of the SDF, a powerful Kurdish-led coalition that had operated largely independently in northeastern Syria for years. This move marks a significant shift in the balance of power within the country, as the new Syrian government seeks to consolidate control over all regions and populations. Abdi’s appointment was detailed in a decree stating, “Mustafa Khalil Abdi is appointed as adviser to the presidency of the republic.” The name used reflects one of the many identities attributed to Abdi, who has been a key figure in the SDF since its formation. His designation as a presidential adviser follows the SDF’s announcement on August 25 that it would dissolve and integrate its military and administrative structures into the Syrian state apparatus. According to Abdi, this process concluded with the incorporation of SDF forces into the Syrian Army, a critical step toward unifying the country’s security infrastructure under Damascus’s authority. The integration of the SDF represents a major strategic win for al-Sharaa’s government, which emerged after the fall of Bashar Assad in late 2024. The new regime has been working to restore centralized governance across Syria, which had been fragmented during the decade-long civil war. The inclusion of the SDF, which had long been viewed as semi-autonomous, into the national military structure is seen as a crucial step in achieving this goal. U.S. special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack praised the agreement, calling it an example of how former adversaries can reach a diplomatic resolution to bolster Syrian sovereignty. Alongside the military integration, the Syrian government has introduced policies aimed at addressing longstanding grievances among the Kurdish population. On August 27, the Education Ministry authorized the teaching of the Kurdish language in public and private schools in areas where Kurds form a substantial portion of the population. This decision aligns with a previous decree by al-Sharaa recognizing Kurdish as a national language and affirming the rights of Syria’s Kurdish community. These steps represent a departure from past policies that marginalized the Kurdish minority, who have historically faced systemic discrimination. Abdi has emphasized that while the administrative integration of the SDF into the Syrian state is complete, the fight for securing Kurdish rights in the new constitutional framework continues. He stated that the Kurdish population, estimated at around 2 million out of a total of approximately 20 million Syrians, must see their cultural and political aspirations reflected in the country’s future governance. Meanwhile, in Turkey, the People’s Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) has called for closer engagement with Kurdish political leaders in Syria, including Abdi and İlham Ahmed, a former co-chair of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES). At a press conference following a central executive board meeting, DEM spokesperson Ayşegül Doğan urged the Grand National Assembly of Turkey to invite Abdi and Ahmed to engage directly with Turkish officials. Doğan highlighted the potential for such interactions to advance the broader Kurdish peace process in Turkey, which involves negotiations between the Turkish government and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The Kurdish peace process in Turkey, initiated in October 2024, aims to resolve the decades-old conflict with the PKK. Recent developments include the establishment of parliamentary commissions to oversee the legal aspects of the peace talks and the passage of the Framework Law in August 2025. Doğan expressed hope that the successful integration of the SDF into the Syrian state would serve as a model for resolving conflicts through diplomacy and legal frameworks rather than continued violence. She also underscored the importance of involving women in political and diplomatic discussions, reflecting a broader push for inclusivity in the peace process. The integration of the SDF into the Syrian military and the recognition of Kurdish linguistic and cultural rights mark a turning point in Syria’s political landscape. As the new government moves forward, the extent to which these policies translate into lasting reforms, and whether they will ease tensions with other regional powers, remains to be seen.