A European delegation led by French politicians visited Raqqa (Reqa) yesterday to discuss Syria’s democratic future and the plight of its displaced communities.
Once the capital of ISIS’s self-declared caliphate, Raqqa has undergone a remarkable transformation under the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), emerging as a city of coexistence, pluralism, and peace.
The delegation, which includes members of France’s New Popular Front, such as Danielle Simonnet, Thomas Porte and Geneviève Garrigos, met with local officials to explore the AANES model of governance. The discussions highlighted the potential of this model to shape a democratic and inclusive future for Syria.
“We understand why regional powers resist this democratic project,” said Garrigos, a Paris City Councillor and former head of Amnesty International France.
“This is not just a Kurdish project. It includes Arabs, Syriacs and other communities. In a democratic Syria, everyone should have the right to return to their homes and live without fear of displacement or aggression.”
Hisen Osman, co-president of the AANES’s Executive Council, expressed concerns over external interference in the region.
“We face many challenges,” he said. “There are efforts to create division, especially targeting Arab communities, to destabilise the situation in North and East Syria. These efforts, spread through rumours and social media, have intensified since the fall of the Assad regime.”
The delegation visited a school hosting refugees displaced by Turkish-backed aggression. Garrigos stressed the urgent need to ensure a safe return for these internally displaced persons (IDPs), noting that over 150,000 people from Afrin (Efrîn), Tell Abyad (Girê Spî) and Ras al-Ayn (Serêkaniyê) have been forced to seek refuge in Raqqa.
“In 2018, tens of thousands were displaced from Afrin due to Turkish aggression,” Garrigos said. “Since December 2024, new attacks have forced many to flee again. These people have a right to return, but only in a truly democratic Syria.”
Hamdan al-Abed, a member of the Arab Dulaim (Dlim) tribe and the AANES Executive Council, refuted claims that Arab tribes do not support the Autonomous Administration.
“Thousands of our members are active in the AANES and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF),” he said. “We share this struggle with Kurds, Syriacs and others, and our martyrs rest side by side in cemeteries.”
The delegation praised the role of women in the region’s governance, with YPJ Commander Rohilat Afrin highlighting women’s equal participation in defence and leadership. “We cannot allow women to be relegated to traditional roles in a new Syria. Women fought alongside men to defeat ISIS, and their contributions are essential to our future,” Afrin said.
As the delegation prepares to attend celebrations today for the 10th anniversary of the liberation of Kobani (Kobanê), French MP Thomas Porte stressed the importance of international support.
“Macron’s declarations about Kurdish inclusion are a start, but we need concrete actions,” he said. “France must pressure Turkey to stop its aggression and support justice for displaced communities.”
The visit highlights the significance of Raqqa as a symbol of resilience and cooperation, as well as Kobani’s enduring legacy as a beacon of hope for democracy and freedom in Syria.
