The Kurdish National Council (ENKS/KNC) has strongly condemned the exclusion of Kurds from the National Dialogue Conference held in Damascus on Tuesday, labeling it a “bad sign” and calling for greater inclusivity in Syria’s political process. The conference, backed by Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, aimed to pave the way for free and fair elections, the formation of an inclusive government, and the drafting of a new constitution. However, the absence of Kurdish representation has drawn widespread criticism.

Faisal Youssef, an ENKS spokesperson, expressed disappointment in the conference’s outcomes, stating that the Kurdish community had high hopes for a post-Assad Syria where Kurds would play a central role in negotiations and reconstruction. “Following the ouster of the Bashar al-Assad regime, the Kurdish community had great hopes for a new Syria where Kurds play a central role in the negotiations and the country’s reconstruction. Unfortunately, the Kurdish political struggle took a negative turn at the conference,” Youssef told Rudaw.

Youssef emphasized the Kurdish community’s contributions to challenging the Assad regime through struggle and protest, which he said helped break the public’s fear of the regime. He urged against repeating past practices of exclusion under the Assad-led Baath regime, stressing that no group should be left out of shaping Syria’s future.

The National Dialogue Conference, intended to foster unity and reconciliation, has instead sparked a wave of criticism. Thirty-five political parties in northeast Syria (Rojava) issued a joint statement declaring the conference’s outcomes “meaningless and without value.” The parties questioned the event’s ability to “pave the way for a genuine solution to the country’s crisis.”

Similarly, the Democratic Autonomous Administration in North and East Syria (DAANES) condemned the conference, describing it as “closer to exclusion and marginalization” rather than a true reflection of the Syrian people’s aspirations. DAANES argued that the conference ignored Syria’s diverse communities and failed to include what they consider “the true representatives of the people.”

The exclusion of Kurds from the conference has raised concerns about the inclusivity and legitimacy of Syria’s political process. As the country continues to grapple with a protracted crisis, the Kurdish National Council and other groups are urging for a more representative approach to ensure all voices are heard in shaping Syria’s future.