Nadine Maenza Hails Historic Kurdish Unity Conference in NE Syria

DAMASCUS— Nadine Maenza, President of the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Secretariat, Global Fellow at the Wilson Center Middle East Program, and former Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, celebrated a landmark Kurdish Unity Conference held last week in Northeast Syria (Rojava, Western Kurdistan).

“Historic Kurdish Unity Conference in NE Syria brings leaders from AANES, KRG, PYD, KDP, KNC & others together, approving a joint delegation for talks with Damascus,” Maenza wrote on social media, highlighting the unprecedented cooperation among diverse Kurdish and allied groups.

Key Outcomes of the Conference

1. Joint Delegation to Damascus
   Leaders agreed to form a unified delegation to negotiate integration with the Syrian government. This step aims to preserve the autonomous, inclusive society they have built since 2012 under the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).
2. Call for a Multiethnic, Multicultural, Multireligious Syria
   The resolution calls on Damascus to recognize Syria as a state that embraces its Arab, Kurdish, Assyrian, Armenian, Turkmen, Circassian, Alawite, Druze, Yazidi, Christian, and other communities, ensuring decentralized governance and freedom of religion. Notably, it demands that Yazidism—still unrecognized under current Syrian law—be granted formal status.
3. Affirmation of Peaceful Coexistence
   Conference participants stressed their commitment to peaceful coexistence and mutual respect among all Syrian communities, positioning the Kurdish unity framework as a model for national reconciliation.

Maenza’s Perspective and Regional Impact

Having crossed the border into both Kurdish- and government-controlled areas over six years, Nadine Maenza finds the unity effort deeply encouraging:

“After six years of visiting both sides of the border, it’s deeply encouraging to see my friends united as they prepare to negotiate integration into the Syrian Government—aiming to preserve the inclusive society they’ve built and strengthen all of Syria.”

Her endorsement lends significant diplomatic weight to the conference outcomes, underscoring the importance of religious freedom, decentralized governance, and inclusive statehood in Syria’s future.

Why This Matters

• Strengthening Religious Freedom: Maenza’s own work at the IRF Secretariat and the Wilson Center emphasizes the critical role of protected religious practice in rebuilding war-torn societies.
• Promoting Decentralization: A decentralized model could offer a sustainable path to peace by empowering local communities while respecting national sovereignty.
• Model for Minority Rights: Formal recognition of Yazidis and other minorities addresses long-standing grievances and helps prevent future persecution.

Next Steps

The newly approved delegation is expected to approach Damascus within the coming weeks. Observers hope these negotiations will pave the way for constitutional reforms that institutionalize the conference’s principles, setting a blueprint for broader Syrian reconciliation.

As Nadine Maenza and the global religious-freedom community continue to monitor developments, the Kurdish Unity Conference in Rojava stands out as a beacon of hope for a multiethnic, multi-faith Syria.

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