Ilham Ahmed, Foreign Relations co-chair for the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), has commented on international reactions to recent developments in Syria and discussed her role in representing AANES in global diplomacy, during a recent interview with ANHA News.
Ahmed welcomed the easing of economic sanctions on Syria, stating that she opposes sanctions imposed as a form of punishment. She emphasised that international financial aid should be directed towards meeting the needs of the people and fostering a national dialogue within Syria.
She criticised the hypocrisy of Western powers such as France and Germany, highlighting the gap between their official statements and actions on the ground. In particular, she condemned their inaction regarding ongoing Turkish military attacks on civilians and infrastructure in northern Syria, stressing that these assaults continue without any clear response or preventive measures from Western nations.
Ahmed was also questioned about her foreign policy efforts, specifically whether she had raised human rights concerns, including Turkey’s occupation of large parts of northern Syria and its alliance with Islamist militias. She confirmed that she had addressed these issues with international actors such as the United Nations, the United States, and European states, urging them to act as guarantors to facilitate the return of refugees to their homes.
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Ahmed emphasised the strategic importance of the Tishreen (Tişrîn) Dam in her diplomatic efforts, warning that ongoing attacks by Turkey and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) could trigger an ecological and humanitarian crisis affecting the whole of Syria.
She warned that some members of the newly formed Syrian interim government are blacklisted by the United States, including the individual responsible for the assassination of Kurdish politician Hevrin Khalaf. Ahmed also drew attention to the tens of thousands of ISIS affiliates held in detention camps under the control of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), in terms of security challenges, limited repatriation and local trial efforts.
When asked about future meetings with Arab nations, Ahmed confirmed that AANES maintains ongoing diplomatic relations with many Arab countries, stressing that their support for a peace process and political transition in Syria is crucial. Further meetings are planned, she added.
Discussing the role of women in Syria, Ahmed stated that the spread of radical Islam during the civil war had stripped Syrian women of many rights, but that women are now reclaiming these rights. “Our experience in the Autonomous Administration has shown that women’s empowerment is key to resolving the Syrian crisis. Women stand for peace, justice, and direct participation,” she said.
Ilham Ahmed concluded by addressing the women of Syria directly, calling them “the makers of change” and urging: “Don’t let anyone push you aside or silence you. The women of North and East Syria have demonstrated their role as vanguard. You, too, can be a vanguard for building a free future for Syria.”
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