Explainer: Why is Turkey arresting its own proxy council members in Afrin?

Thousands of Kurds have been disappeared by Turkish forces in Afrin, but arrests targeting Turkey's own political apparatus are unusual (file photo, al-Andalou) Why is Turkey arresting its own proxy council members in Afrin?Mass arrests,…

Translation: General amnesty for prisoners in North and East Syria – AANES resolution

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The Justice Council of North and East Syria has announced an amnesty for prisoners, and is working on another amnesty for Syrian residents of Hol Camp Many prisoners in North and East Syria will be released via a general amnesty or have…

Translation: Criticism and proposals from Syrian Democratic Council consultation, Raqqa

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The Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) has launched a series of consultations across North and East Syria. RIC researchers recently attended one such public consultation in Raqqa, summarized below, following on from another meeting in Heseke…

“Our aim is that these women open their minds” – Roj Camp management on transfers from Al-Hol

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Recently, around forty families have been transferred from Al-Hol camp to the much smaller Roj camp (with less than 2000 inhabitants as compared to around 70,000 in Al-Hol). RIC visited Roj Camp and talked to Nura Abdo, head of camp management.…

Translation: Criticism and proposals from Syrian Democratic Council public consultation

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Key stakeholders including opposition politicans and tribal leaders were invited, as well as members of the general public The Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) has launched a series of consultations across North and East Syria. The meetings…

Explainer: Christian Communities in North and East Syria

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Syriac Orthodox Church, Heseke Origins The Assyrian and Syriac Christian communities in North and East Syria trace their origins to the Assyrian empire, a Mesopotamian kingdom in the ancient Near East and the Levant that…

Explainer: The Religious Assembly and Academy for Democratic Islam

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The Autonomous Administration’s secular position on religion is laid out in the Social Contract, the founding document of the Democratic Federation of North and East Syria. The Social Contract states that public affairs are not to be conducted…

‘The regime blockade suffocates this region’ – Health worker on coronavirus crisis in Shehba region

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Health workers in the isolated enclave, home to 200,000 Kurdish IDPs, are struggling to deal with the outbreak Q: Is coronavirus spreading in Shehba? Frankly, it is very difficult to know if someone has coronavirus because the symptoms…

“This is the first time, after thousands of years, that our identity has been accepted and valued” – Eisha Sido, Yazidi Women’s Union of Afrin

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The Yazidi Women’s Union of Afrin works for the protection of the Yazidi culture and promotes the integration of Yazidi women in all spheres of society. Eisha Sido, member of the organization, explains how the establishment of the Autonomous…

“What is very important for us is to see there is willingness to help us” – Gulistan Sido from the University of Rojava

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The University of Rojava recently launched an appeal for support to universities and academics around the world. RIC interviewed Gulistan Sido, responsible for external relations at the University of Rojava, to learn more about its history,…