The Syrian Transitional Government’s attacks on the civilian population in the predominantly Kurdish districts of Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafiyah and Bani Zaid in Aleppo are becoming increasingly brutal.

The object of the operation is to besiege the regions where 500,000 Kurds have resided for centuries. In the last four months, the Transitional Government had already perpetrated two significant military assaults targeting Kurdish civilians.

Since yesterday, groups affiliated with the Damascus government have intensified their siege of the Sheikh Maqsood, Ashrafiyah and Bani Zaid neighborhood as part of an organized and overt crime; they have been carrying out intense artillery fire, surrounding residential areas with tanks, and posing a comprehensive threat of occupation.

Government forces have been adding to the oppression by kidnapping Kurdish youths and using them as human shields, pushing them to the front line of attack.

These new intensified attacks began shortly after talks on integrating the SDF into the Syrian Ministry of Defense were held on January 4. The SDF has shown great willingness to compromise on democratic integration, but it seems that the Syrian Transitional Government is attempting to bring the SDF to its knees through attacks on civilians. These attacks reveal the dishonesty of the Syrian Transitional Government, which it is trying to enforce its dominance by force, in the same way that the Baath regime did.

The Kurds did not bow to ISIS in the past, and they will not bow down now. As Kurdish political parties and civil society organizations, we view the attacks against our people in Aleppo as a national issue, and we stand behind our people.

The politics of interest have led international powers to court the Syrian Transitional Government, thereby contributing to the creation of a new anti-democratic, aggressive, patriarchal, authoritarian regime. We call on all states and international organizations not to promote such a regime into a new Syrian dictatorship. A local problem can quickly turn into a global threat, as shown by the rise of ISIS.

We urge the Syrian government, particularly the Ministry of Defense, to reconsider its declaration of war against the Kurds in Aleppo and to engage in dialogue. Furthermore, we urge the government in Damascus to resume negotiations and avoid turning Syria into a proxy territory for hostile regional states, such as Turkey, that stand in the way of peace.

We also call on the United Nations, the United States, the member states of the European Union, and the Arab League to do all they can to stop the crimes against Kurds and other minorities in Aleppo.

The statement is signed by the following parties and organizations:

1. Kurdistan National Congress – External Relations Commission (KNK)
2. Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) / Yekîtiya Nîstimanî ya Kurdistan (PUK)
3. Koma Civakên Kurdistan (KCK) / Kurdistan Democratic Communities Union (KCK)
4. Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) / Partiya Demokratîk a Kurdistana Îranê (PDKI)
5. Gorran Movement / Tevgera Gorran
6. European Syriac Union (ESU) / Yekîtiya Sûryanîyên li Ewropa (ESU)
7. Syriac Union Party, Rojava / Partita Yekîtiya Sûryanîya, Rojava
8. Bet-Nahrain Democratik Party / Partiya Demokratîk ya Bet-Nahrîn
9. Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK) / Partî Jiyanî Azadî Kurdistan (PJAK)
10. Democratic Union Party (PYD) / Partîya Yekîtîya Demokratîk (PYD)
11. European Kurdish Democratic Societies Congress (KCDK-E) / Kongreya Civakên Demokratîk a Kurdistaniyên li Ewropayê (KCDK-E)
12. Kurdistan Democratic Socialist Party (KDSP) / Partiya Sosyalîst a Demokratîk a Kurdistanê (KDSP)
13. Kurdish Democratic Unity Party in Syria (El-Wehde) / Partiya Yekîtîya Demokratîk a Kurd li Sûrîyê (El Wehde)
14. Kurdistan Islamic Party (PIK) / Partîya Islamîya Kurdistan (PIK)
15. Kurdistan Judicial Association / Komela Dadgerî Kurdistan
16. Kurdistan Women’s Community (KJK) / Koma Jinên Kurdistan (KJK)
17. Kurdish Women’s Movement in Europe (TJK-E) / Tevgera Jinên Kurd li Ewropa (TJK-E)
18. Federation of Yazidis in Kurdistan / Federation of Êzidîs in Kurdistan
19. Kurdistan Green Party, Rojava / Partiya Kesk a Kurdistanê, Rojava
20. Green Party, Kurdistan Region of Iraq / Partiya Kesk, Herêma Kurdistana Iraqê
21. Kurdistan Labor Party – Partiya Kedkarên Kurdistanê
22. Kurdish Democratic Party of Syria (PDKS) – Partiya Demokrat a Kurd a Sûriyeyê (PDKS)
23. Syrian Kurdish Left Democratic Party (PÇDK-S) / Partiya Çep a Kurd a Sûriyê (PÇDK-S)
24. The Kurdish Democratic Party, Syria (PDK-S – El Partî) / El Partî Demuqratî Kurd, Suriya  (PDK-S – El Partî)
25. Kurdish Progressive Democratic Party of Syria (PDPK-S) / Partiya Demokrat a Pêşverû ya Kurd a Sûriyeyê (PDPK-S)
26. Syrian Kurdish Left Party (PÇK-S) / Partiya Çep a Kurd a Sûriyeyê (PÇK-S)
27. Kurdish Democratic Party of Syria (PDK-S) / Partî Demokratî Kurdî a Suriya (PDK-S)
28. Kurdistan Liberation Party (PRK) / Partiya Rizgariya Kurdistanê (PRK)
29. Kurdistan Green Party – European Kurdish Greens / Partiya Kesk a Kurdistanê – Keskên Kurd ên Ewropî
30. Democratic Yarsan Organization / Rêxistina Yarsan a Demokratîk
31. New Generation Kurdish Movement of Syria (TNKS) / Tevgera Nifşê Nû ya Kurd a Sûriyeyê (TNKS)
32. Kurdistan Communist Party (KKP) / Partîya Kumunîsta Kurdistan (KKP)
33. National Democratic Union of Kurdistan (YNDK) / Yekîtî Neteweyî Demokratîkî Kurdistan (YNDK)
34. Federation of Êzidîs in Kurdistan (Nav-Yek) / Federasyona Êzidiyên Kurdistanê (Nav-Yek)
35. Yazidi Union of Syria (HÊS) / Yekîtiya Êzîdiyên Sûriyeyê (HÊS)
36. Islamic Society of Kurdistan (CIK) / Civaka Islamîaya Kurdistan (CIK)
37. Union of Free Women in Eastern Kurdistan (KJAR) / Koma Jinên Azad – Rojhilatê Kurdistanê (KJAR)
38. Alevi Federation of Kurdistan (FEDA) / Federesyona Elewîyên Kurdistan (FEDA)
39. The Supreme National Front of the Feyli (El Cephe El Feyliyya) / Enîya Bilinda Niştimanî ya Feylîyan (El Cephe El Feylîye)
40. Congress of Yazidis in Russia / Kongreya Êzidiyên Rûsyayê
41. Democratic Islamic Congress – Rojava / Kongreya Islama Demokratîk – Rojava
42. Mesopotamian People’s Congress / Kongre Camayto di Bet Nahrin (Kongra Gelê Mezopotamya)
43. Federal National and Cultural Autonomy of the Kurds of Russia / Otonomiya Federal a Netewî û Çandî ya Kurdên Rûsyayê
44. Kurdistan People’s Democratic Party – Hewler / Bizûtneweyî Demokrati Gelî Kurdistan – Hewlêr
45. Kurdistan Green Party / Partîya Keska Kurdistanê
46. Syrian Yazidi Union (Rojava) / Yekîtîya Êzidiyên Sûrî (Rojava)
47. Kurdistan Democratic Party, Syria / Partî Demokratî Kurdistanî, Syria
48. Kurdistan Defenders Party / Partî Parezgeranî Kurdistan
49. Kurdistan Democratic Socialist Party – South Kurdistan / Partî Sosyalîstî Demokratî Kurdistan – Başur
50. Partî Zahmetkêşanî Kurdistan / Party of Labour of Kurdistan
51. Kurdistan Peace and Democratic Party, Rojava / Partiya Aştî ȗ Demokratîk ya Kurdistanî, Rojava
52. Kurdish Democratic Left Party in Syria / Partiya Çepa Demokrat ya Kurd li Sûriyê
53. Kurdish Left Party in Syria / Partîya Çepa Kurd li Suriya
54. Mesopotamian – Assyrian Democratic Change Party / Partîya Guhertina Demokratik ya Mezopotamya – Asurî
55. Kurdish National Unity Party in Syria / Partîya Kombûna Niştimanîya Kurd li Sûrî
56. Kurdish Communist Party, Syria / Partiya Komunista Kurd, Suriya
57. Kurdistan Liberal Party, Rojava / Partiya Liberal ya Kurdistan, Rojava
58. Yazidi Movement of Kurdistan (TEVDA) / Tevgera Ezidîyên Kurdistan (TEVDA)
59. Democratic Society Movement (Tev-Dem) / Tevgera Civaka Demokratîk (Tev-Dem)
60. Kurdistan Social Freedom Movement / Tevgera Azadiya Komelgeyî Kurdistan
61. The New Kurdistan Movement – ​​Rojava / Tevgera Nujena Kurdistan – Rojava
62. International Union of Kurdish Organizations in CIS Countries / Yekîtiya Navnetewî ya Rêxistinên Kurdan ên li welatên YDS
63. Kurdistan Revolutionary Union / Yekîtî Şoreşgeranî Kurdistan
64. Kurdistan Communist Party / Partî Hizbî Şuî Kurdistan
65. KOMELE (Communist Party of Iran – Kurdistan Representation) KOMELE (Hizbî Komûnîstî Îran – Sazûmanî Kurdistan)
66. Islamic Unity of Kurdistan / Yekgirtuyî Islamî Kurdistan
67. Kurdish Progressive Democratic Party in Syria (PDPK-S) / Partîya Demokrata Pêşverûya Kurd li Surîaya (PDPK-S)
68. Union of Kurdistans Parliamentarians (KPU) / Yekîtîya Parlamenterên Kurdistan (KPU)

Member Institutes and Civil Society Organizations:/Enstîtût û Rêxistinên Medenî yên Endam:

1. Coordination of Kurdish Democratic Society Centers – France (CDK-F) / Koordînasyona Navendên Civakên Demokratîkên Kurd – Fransa (CDK-F)
2. The Center of Halabja against Anfalization and Genocide of the Kurds (CHAK) / Navenda Helebçeyê li dijî Enfalkirin û Jenosîda Kurdan (CHAK)
3. Kurdish Institute – Germany / Enstituta Kurdî – Almanaya
4. Kurdish Institute – Brussels / Enstituta Kurdî – Bruksel
5. Kurdish Institute – Stockholm / Enstituta Kurdî – Stockholm
6. Kurdish Institute – Switzerland / Enstituta Kurdî – Swîre
7. Association of Families of Victims and Disappeared (KOMAW) / Komela Malbatên Mexdûr û Wendahîyan (KOMAW)
8. Kurdistan Committee in Armenia / Komîteya Kurdistan ya li Ermenistanê
9. People’s Assembly – Maxmur / Meclisa Gel – Mexmûr
10. Yazidi Women’s Council (SMJÊ) / Meclisa Jina ya Êzidîyan (SMJÊ)
11. Coordination of Kurdish Democratic Society Centers – Germany (KON-MED) / Koordînasyona Navendên Civakên Demokratîkên Kurd – Almanya (KON-MED)
12. Margaret Education Center – Sulaymaniyah / Navenda Perwerdeya Margaret – Silêmanî
13. Central Anatolian Kurdish Platform (PKAN-E) / Platforma Kurdên Anatolîya Navîn – (PKAN-E)
14. Platform of Horams / Platformî Horam
15. Development and Progress Movement – ​​South Kurdistan / Tevgera Geşedan û Pêşedanê – Başûr
16. Union of Kurdish Institutions in Ukraine (MEDIA) / Yekîtiya Saziyên Kurd ên li Ûkraynayê (MEDYA)