Condemnations over the exclusive formation of the preparatory committee for the national dialogue conference

North and East Syria — The recent formation of the preparatory committee for Syria’s National Dialogue Conference has sparked strong reactions from several political and military entities in the country. The Democratic Autonomous Administration of the Region of North and East Syria (DAARNES), the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and the Democratic Union Party (DUP), have all issued statements criticizing the committee’s composition, arguing that it fails to represent the diverse spectrum of Syrian society.

As the preparatory committee announced its work agenda, disappointment grew among many Syrians who viewed the selection process as exclusionary. In response, the DAARNES released a statement urging the Syrian Interim Government to reassess its approach and consider a more inclusive vision for the country’s future.

Accusations of marginalization

The statement from the DAARNES condemned what it described as a restrictive selection process, calling it a miscalculation of Syria’s current political landscape. It emphasized that true democratic transformation requires broad representation, not a narrow, exclusionary approach. The statement further argued that the formation of the committee in its current form signals a continuation of past marginalization policies, which many Syrians will not accept.

The SDC echoed these concerns, pointing out that the committee was formed from a single political bloc, undermining the principle of fair and comprehensive representation. In a separate statement, the Council criticized the deliberate exclusion of political forces that have long opposed the Assad regime, many of whom have faced repression, exile, and violence for their dissent. The Council warned that such exclusionary practices only serve to recreate the same patterns of marginalization that have plagued Syria’s political system for decades.

Questions over the conference’s legitimacy

Farhad Shami, media director for the SDF, also weighed in, asserting that any national conference that excludes the SDF or the DAARNES lacks true legitimacy. He warned that the committee’s formation appears to repeat past exclusionary policies that have contributed to Syria’s destruction and societal fragmentation.

Meanwhile, Saleh Muslim, a member of the Presidential Council of the DUP, criticized the committee for its lack of political diversity. He suggested that minor adjustments were made merely to appease certain external parties rather than to ensure real representation. He also rejected the idea that the participation of a few individuals, without a mandate from the Autonomous Administration, could serve as a substitute for meaningful inclusion.

The ongoing controversy highlights deep divisions within Syrian political circles and raises questions about the feasibility of a truly inclusive national dialogue. As the debate unfolds, many remain skeptical about whether this initiative will lead to genuine reconciliation or merely reinforce existing fractures within the country’s political landscape.