The collapse of the Assad regime on 8 December drastically altered the political and military balance in Syria, yet uncertainties about the country’s future remain. The fall of the regime does not signify the complete end of conflicts and tensions, but the international community has already begun engaging with new actors to initiate a diplomatic process aimed at building a 'new Syria.'

Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which quickly filled the power vacuum, has taken control of the transitional period. Although HTS leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa (Al-Jolani) is still seen as the commander of an armed group, international actors hope he will undergo a political transformation and emerge as a key figure in Syria’s reconstruction.

However, this initial optimism quickly gave way to concern. Reports of massacres targeting Alawite communities, particularly from coastal regions, sparked outrage both among the public and within international circles. The administration under Al-Jolani failed to take a clear stance on these attacks, heightening fears that the new era would be neither inclusive nor peaceful. Despite these developments, on the evening of 29 March, a 23-member 'Syrian Interim Government' cabinet was announced under the leadership of Al-Jolani, who assumed the title of president. Yet the cabinet fails to reflect the country’s social diversity and instead embodies a singular, exclusionary vision. Al-Jolani’s authoritarian political practices and his lack of an inclusive governance approach have raised serious questions within the international community about whether genuine transformation in Syria is truly possible.

The Turkish state, which is the main supporter of HTS, along with its affiliated militia groups, continues its occupation and attacks in the regions governed by the Autonomous Administration of Northern and Eastern Syria.

Renée Le Mignot, co-chair of the France-based Movement Against Racism and for Friendship Between Peoples, shared her assessment with ANF regarding the attacks targeting Rojava and the significance of the Rojava model for the future of Syria.

War and crimes against humanity are being committed in Rojava

Renée Le Mignot stated that despite the fall of the Assad regime, no significant change has occurred in Syria. Contrary to expectations, massacres and the colonial presence of foreign powers persist. She recalled that since the beginning of the Syrian civil war, the Turkish state has pursued a hostile policy toward Rojava. She said, “The Turkish state’s attacks on the region constitute both war crimes and crimes against humanity. As documented with evidence by the Peoples’ Court of Rojava, the Turkish state deliberately targets civilians in Rojava. Those killed are primarily women, children, and entire families. Turkey is not only targeting civilians, it also aims to completely destroy the social system that has been built in Rojava. Enforced disappearances, forced displacement, all of these fall under the definition of war crimes. And the deliberate destruction of a culture and a society is a crime against humanity.”

We are fighting for the removal of the PKK from the terror list

Renée Le Mignot criticized Europe’s stance toward the Turkish state, stating that European leaders have capitulated to the blackmail of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. She continued: “I previously took part in court hearings regarding the crimes committed by Turkey against the Kurdish people. The conclusions reached in relation to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) were significant for us. The court recognized that what is happening between the PKK and Turkey constitutes an armed conflict, and it clearly showed that the PKK respects the Geneva Conventions. It is, in fact, the Turkish state that violates these conventions, whether in Rojava or other parts of Kurdistan. Taking this into account, as a movement, we are calling on France to remove the PKK from its list of so-called ‘terrorist’ organizations.”

Europe is giving in to blackmail

Although this reality is well known, the Kurdish people continue to be sacrificed for economic and political interests. Europe’s stance is closely linked to Turkey’s blackmail over the refugee issue. Turkey says, ‘If you condemn my human rights violations, I will open my borders and you will be overrun by migrants.’ This is a blatant lie. Moreover, it is our moral responsibility to welcome those fleeing war and dictatorship. What Turkey is doing is blackmail, and Europe is complying with it.”

Rojava must be preserved as a model for the Middle East

Renée Le Mignot stated that Turkey seeks to destroy the Rojava system, which in fact represents a unique model of democracy for the Middle East. She stated, “The Rojava model is an example of democracy, coexistence, and respect for minority rights, whether cultural or social. Gender equality is also central. In a region where women face horrific violence, the freedom and equal rights granted to women in Rojava truly serve as an example for the entire region. The presence of female fighters in Rojava is the clearest expression of women’s strength. The rights granted to women in this region are genuinely extraordinary. Rojava is also a social and ecological experiment. Even though it currently faces destruction, it remains a unique example for the Middle East and must be preserved, both for humanitarian and political reasons.”

The future of Syria depends on the Rojava model

Renée Le Mignot underlined that the rise to power of the jihadist group HTS in Syria poses a major threat for the country’s future and stated that extending the Rojava model across Syria could offer real solutions to its ongoing crises. She continued: “Many people were pleased by the fall of the Assad regime, but if a secular dictatorship is simply replaced by an Islamic one, we have already seen what this leads to in Iran. As long as radical Islamists remain in power, there can be no trust in the future of any system built in Syria. But if the Rojava model is embraced and a democratic Syria established—one that recognizes the rights of Kurds and other communities—it could truly become a source of hope for the country.”