USCIRF Chair Maenza calls for involving Administration of North and East Syria in Geneva talks and Syria’s Constitutional Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Tuesday, during a hearing on Freedom of Religion in Syria held by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), Chair Nadine Maenza called for the Democratic Autonomous Administration (DAA) of North and East Syria to be included in the Geneva talks and Syria’s Constitutional Committee.

“Turkey is constantly blocking all efforts in this regard,” Maenza stated.

The Director of the Program on Peace-building and Rights at Columbia University’s Institute for the Study of Human Rights, David L. Phillips, called on the U.S. to pay attention to religious freedoms and women’s rights in the DAA areas.

He added that the DAA presents a positive model that suits Syria in the long run but noted it will not be possible without DAA participation in the Constitutional Committee and the U.N.-backed political process.

Phillips stressed that the U.S. should view the situation in Turkey realistically and deal with the country as it really is and not as the U.S. wishes it were.

“It is not right to view Turkey as a partner in the confrontation with Russia, as there is much evidence of Turkey’s involvement with Russia in several dossiers that harm the U.S. interests,” he proclaimed.

A full recording of the hearing is available here: