Summary
Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued an order recognizing Kurdish as a national language and granted citizenship to Kurdish Syrians who had lost it. This decision came after recent clashes in Aleppo between Kurdish forces and the Syrian army. The Syrian army has taken control of the town of Deir Hafer after the Kurds withdrew.
Key Facts
- Syria now recognizes Kurdish as a national language, alongside Arabic.
- Kurdish Syrians who lost their citizenship in a 1962 census will have their citizenship restored.
- The decree follows recent deadly clashes in Aleppo involving Kurdish forces.
- The Syrian army regained control over Deir Hafer and other areas after Kurdish fighters withdrew.
- Al-Sharaa's decree also declares Newroz, a Kurdish festival, as a national holiday.
- The order bans ethnic or language discrimination in Syria.
- The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) agreed to withdraw from Aleppo following the decree.
