Kurdish rights groups condemn Syrian Government’s move to incorporate foreign fighters

DARAMSUQ — Several Kurdish human rights organizations in Syria jointly condemned the Syrian government’s decision to integrate foreign fighters into a new military formation, describing it as a “dangerous step” that threatens to deepen instability and lawlessness.

The criticism follows the Syrian government’s announcement to incorporate foreign fighters into the newly created 84th Division under the Ministry of Defense. In their statement, the Kurdish organizations denounced the decision as a clear violation of international laws, including the 1949 Geneva Conventions and UN Security Council Resolution No. 2178 (2014), which addresses the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters.

The organizations warned that the move could legitimize lawlessness and destabilize the country further. They emphasized that attempts to rehabilitate the image of extremist elements — by portraying them as defenders of Syrian citizens — constitute a dangerous distortion of historical truth. The statement highlighted the documented atrocities committed by these groups, including extrajudicial killings, kidnappings, ethnic cleansing, and massacres targeting minorities such as Kurds, Yezidis, Christians, and Alawites in coastal regions.

Integrating such fighters into an official military structure, the groups asserted, poses a grave threat to Syria’s national security and risks reviving jihadist ideologies. They firmly rejected any justification for including these individuals in military or administrative roles, warning that such a precedent could have far-reaching consequences.

The Kurdish organizations called on the United Nations, the European Union, the United States, and other international bodies to intervene and pressure the Syrian government to reverse this decision. They underscored the need for accountability and adherence to international laws to prevent further erosion of stability in the region.