IRF Secretariat President Nadine Maenza and Sinjar Academy President Ismael Murad: Supporting Syrian Democratic Forces aligns with US interests

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Nadine Maenza — President of IRF Secretariat, Global Fellow at The Wilson Center, and former chair of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) — and Ismael Murad — President of the Sinjar Academy and co-founder and former Executive Director of Yazda — emphasized in a co-authored article published in The Hill that it is in the United States’ best interest to support the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) amid the ongoing challenges in Syria..

Maenza argued that backing the SDF is essential to protecting Syria’s diverse communities and preventing the country from becoming a haven for terrorism.

In their article, Maenza and Murad highlighted the SDF’s pivotal role in maintaining stability and fostering inclusivity, contrasting their approach with that of Turkey and its Syrian National Army (SNA) proxy force, which they criticized for marginalizing minority groups.

Maenza and Murad stressed the importance of equitable participation in governance for all Syrian communities, advocating for their recognition as equal members of society. They urged the US and the international community to adopt a comprehensive strategy to prevent Turkish aggression against the SDF, including imposing additional sanctions on the Turkish government.

Their remarks reflect a broader call for a principled US policy in Syria—one that aligns strategic interests with the protection of human rights and religious freedoms.