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https://kongra-star.org/eng/2025/12/09/statement-of-kongra-star/

Statement of Kongra Star

Today marks the first anniversary of the fall of the authoritarian Assad regime, which ruled Syria with absolute centralized control for nearly fifty-four years—a regime that transformed the state into a comprehensive instrument of repression, confiscated the will of the people, tightened its grip over all institutions, suppressed every form of pluralism and self-organization, and drove the country into political, social, and economic collapse. The Syrian people—women and men from all components—paid an enormous price in the blood of martyrs, arrests, displacement, forced migration, and the loss of basic means of life. Through these sacrifices, they affirmed that freedom and dignity are not gifts but the fruit of a long and continuous struggle.

As Kongra Star, as we recall these immense sacrifices, we reaffirm that the revolution was not a superficial change, nor a replacement of one form of tyranny with another, but a project to build a democratic, pluralistic, decentralized Syria—one grounded in the freedom of women, the respect for the will of all components, the preservation of human dignity, and the consolidation of social justice. This revolution redefined the relationship between authority and society and affirmed that true democracy requires inclusive participation, ongoing accountability, and a steadfast commitment to fundamental human principles.

However, the current performance of the transitional government during the past year has not risen to the level of the Syrian people’s aspirations, nor to the magnitude of the sacrifices made. Policies continued to operate within the mentality of “whoever liberates decides,” excluding pathways of comprehensive national dialogue, ignoring the participation of women in decision-making, and failing to take serious steps to guarantee their protection and rights—even though women were the primary driving force of the revolution and the bearers of the vision for democratic change and transformation.
A new Syria cannot be built through exclusion, nor through perpetuating the centralization that destroyed the country, nor by ignoring the demands of society and its true forces that endured throughout the years of war. Nor can it be built without recognizing the decisive role of the women’s movement, which has proven its ability to organize, defend, and present an advanced democratic model in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. The responsibility of building a democratic Syria requires political courage, a serious review of all current policies, and a genuine willingness to listen to the voice of the people—especially the voice of women who led the path of liberation. Unity and stability can only be achieved through real democracy and through acknowledging that women’s freedom is the cornerstone of any democratic transformation.
In conclusion, we renew our pledge to our people and to the women of Syria to continue the struggle and to defend the project of freedom, justice, and equality, and to work with all democratic forces to build a homeland worthy of the sacrifices of the martyrs and the hopes of the coming generations.

Kongra Star
7 December 2025