RIHA – Speaking on the 13th anniversary of the Rojava Revolution, PYD Foreign Relations Spokesperson Salih Muslim emphasized that the Autonomous Administration offers a democratic model for the Middle East. “We are not surrendering to anyone. What’s needed is a change in mentality,” he said.
On July 19, 2012, the people of Kobanê ousted regime forces and assumed control of their city, marking the beginning of the Rojava Revolution. Since then, the region has faced numerous attacks from regime loyalists, ISIS, Turkey, and paramilitary groups. Despite this, a popular resistance emerged, guided by the democratic, ecological, and women-centered ideology of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan.
‘WE KNEW A REVOLUTION WAS COMING’
Salih Muslim, who co-chaired the PYD during the early years of the revolution, recalled: “We sensed the revolution was coming. Our role was to prepare.” He said initial opposition attacks, claiming to target regime forces, were in fact aimed at Kurdish regions. “In Kobanê, we realized we were the true target. That’s when we began declaring the cantons. The people believed in the revolution—and with the Kurdish freedom movement involved, that belief only grew stronger.”
‘WE REJECT THE NATION-STATE MODEL’
Muslim explained that the Autonomous Administration was built on Öcalan’s “democratic nation” paradigm, welcoming ethnic and religious diversity: “We set aside the nation-state model. Assyrians, Arabs, and others became part of this project. Because of that, we’ve faced hostility from several nation-states—and even criticism from within the Kurdish community.”
He also pointed to Turkish influence in stoking opposition: “They claimed we were trying to divide Syria, or that we were communists. This narrative has Turkey’s fingerprints all over it.”
‘WE KNOW WHAT THIS MINDSET WANTS’
Referring to recent comments by U.S. Syria Envoy Thomas Barrack, Muslim criticized continued foreign endorsement of the nation-state model in the Middle East: “Barrack says the U.S. doesn’t support a Kurdish state, trying to please Turkey while pushing us back into the arms of the same oppressive structures we’ve resisted. We know exactly what this mindset is trying to do.”
Muslim stressed that they support coexistence—but not at the cost of surrender: “They say they want to work with us, but they don’t offer us a seat at the table. Are we supposed to just give in? We will not be part of a Syria governed by a caliphate.”
‘NO DISARMAMENT WITHOUT SECURITY GUARANTEES’
On discussions around potential disarmament of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Muslim said: “Laying down arms without securing the rights, lives, and cultures of local communities would be tantamount to mass murder. These weapons are for self-defense—not because we love them. But without a deal, without trust, they expect us to disarm.”
He emphasized that the Autonomous Administration remains a model of democratic governance in the region. “This is not just for the Kurds, but a roadmap for all of Kurdistan and the Middle East. But without changing the mindset imposed by the nation-state, this model is constantly under threat.”
‘WE TRUST IN ÖCALAN’S VISION’
Muslim concluded by expressing continued faith in Abdullah Öcalan’s philosophy: “His vision has steadily gained relevance. We believe his ideas hold the key to Kurdish freedom and regional peace. That’s why we see the dialogue between Öcalan and Turkey as vital. It’s about more than politics—it’s about shifting a century-old mentality.”
MA / Ceylan Sahinli