Press release

Syrian Coalition

Media Department

April 2, 2018

The Syrian Coalition condemns the arrests, kidnappings and intimidation campaigns being carried out by militias of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) against Kurdish dissidents and activists as well as Syrians of various affiliations. A number of political activists and dissidents are still detained by the PYD in coordination with the Assad regime.

The Coalition expresses its deep concern over the PYD’s raiding of the house of member of the presidency of the Kurdish National Council and General Coordinator of the Al-Islah Movement Faisal Yusuf in the town of Qamishli. Yusuf was kidnapped and taken to an unknown destination. The terrorist PYD militia also threatened it would liquidate Fuad Alliko, member of the Coalition’s political committee and Ibrahim Berro, former President of the Kurdish National Council because of their rejection of PYD terrorism and its attempts to establish a de facto situation and their support for the Syrian revolution.

The Coalition holds the PYD militia fully responsible for the safety of Yusuf as it warns of causing any harm to Yusuf and other dissidents who are being threatened along with their families and associates, including Abdul Rahman Abu, Head of the National Council in Afrin. The Coalition calls on all parties to stop all types of support for the PYD militia and deter it from continuing its repressive and criminal actions.

The Coalition reaffirms its commitment to the principles and aspirations that the Syrian people have sought to achieve throughout seven years of their struggle against tyranny. It affirms that its main goal is to ensure that all Syrians across Syria are freed from all forms of tutelage, tyranny, and terrorism and allowed to manage their own affairs.