Nadine Maenza, president of the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Secretariat and former commissioner for the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, has lauded the remarkable leadership of Bedran Çiya Kurd, head of the Foreign Relations Office of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).
Her remarks come in the face of relentless challenges due to the latest Turkish assaults in the region which have left over two million people without basic necessities such as electricity and water.
Maenza expressed her admiration for the Autonomous Administration’s commitment to building a multi-ethnic and multi-religious democracy, with women comprising half of the leadership. She emphasised that such inclusivity is vital for fostering peace and stability in the region, showcasing the Administration’s dedication to representing and safeguarding all religious and ethnic communities in the face of adversity.
“Even after 200+ airstrikes from Turkey in last week destroying civilian infrastructure with 2 million people without electricity or water, they continue to work towards building a future for the people here, although now it is harder,” said Maenza.
Maenza also paid tribute to the 48 individuals, including women and children, who lost their lives in recent Turkish attacks.
She called upon the United States to take decisive action against Turkey’s actions, describing them as war crimes. She stressed the urgent need to make the costs of such aggression prohibitive for Turkey and to ensure the protection of innocent civilians in the region.
While the future of Syria remains uncertain, Maenza asserted that the multi-ethnic, multi-religious government represented by the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration is pivotal to achieving peace and security in a significant portion of the country. She passionately urged for international support to be extended to “this multi-ethnic, multi-religious government” which she believes is the key to peace and security in the region.
