In a letter addressed to US President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump, a coalition of 110 global leaders, organisations and activists has called for decisive action to halt Turkey’s aggression in northeast Syria. The letter, endorsed by the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Community and Middle East Working Group, also seeks to reimpose sanctions on Turkey under Executive Order 13894 until Turkish forces withdraw from territories governed by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).
Among the signatories is Nadine Maenza, President of the International Religious Freedom Secretariat and former Chair of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). Maenza has been a prominent advocate for the protection of religious communities in North and East Syria, particularly during the rise of ISIS and ongoing jihadist attacks. Under her leadership, the IRF Community has consistently supported the AANES for its inclusive governance model, that upholds religious freedom and equal rights for Christians, Yazidis, Kurds, Arabs and other groups. Maenza has emphasised the resilience of the region in the face of Turkish military incursions, calling for international recognition and US action to safeguard its diverse population.
Honored to be one of 110 people & organizations that signed our @IrfRoundtable letter to @POTUS & @realDonaldTrump urging them to:
1) End Turkish attacks on NE Syria
2) Push for non-sectarian Syria with religious freedom & equal rights for all.Read the full letter with maps &… pic.twitter.com/Utu2gyVOqM
— Nadine Maenza (@nadinemaenza) January 9, 2025
The IRF Community’s letter highlights the AANES as a rare and successful model of secular, multi-ethnic governance in the region, fostering religious freedom and equal rights for all. The inclusive framework of the administration, which respects the rights of Christians, Yazidis, Kurds, Arabs and other communities, is seen as a template for a peaceful Syria. The letter warns that Turkish neo-Ottoman ambitions and Islamist proxies threaten this progress, undermining regional stability and exacerbating violence.
Turkey’s ongoing military incursions, including the use of drones and its proxy forces, have displaced tens of thousands and targeted civilian infrastructure. The signatories call on the US to lead international efforts to halt these attacks and support the AANES in building a pluralistic and non-sectarian constitutional framework for Syria. They argue that failing to act risks a resurgence of extremist groups like ISIS, jeopardising the gains made through international efforts to stabilise the region.
Prominent actions advocated include the reimposition of sanctions on Turkish leaders and entities under the provisions of Executive Order 13894, which was initially enacted in 2019 in response to Turkey’s actions in Syria at that time. The letter also calls for bipartisan cooperation in the US Congress to reinforce support for Syrian Kurdish partners, as previously championed by senators Chris Van Hollen and Lindsey Graham.
“Turkey’s actions in northeast Syria represent a significant threat to religious freedom
and human rights,” the letter states. “The United States must act decisively to prevent further atrocities and support governance models like [the] AANES that champion inclusion and diversity.”
For more insights into Nadine Maenza’s work :
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