Khaberni - President Ahmad Al-Sharaa issued Decree No. (13) for the year 2026, which states that Kurdish Syrian citizens are a fundamental and integral part of the Syrian people, and their cultural and linguistic identity is an inseparable part of the diverse and unified Syrian national identity.
The text of the decree is as follows:
President of the Republic
Pursuant to the constitutional provisions
And based on the requirements of the supreme national interest.
And on the role and responsibility of the state in promoting national unity and establishing cultural and civil rights for all Syrian citizens.
The following is decreed:
Article (1): Kurdish Syrian citizens are considered a fundamental and original part of the Syrian people, and their cultural and linguistic identity is an inseparable part of the diverse and unified Syrian national identity.
Article (2): The state is committed to protecting cultural and linguistic diversity, and guarantees the right of Kurdish citizens to revive their heritage and arts and to develop their mother tongue within the framework of national sovereignty.
Article (3): The Kurdish language is considered a national language, and its teaching is allowed in both public and private schools in areas where Kurds constitute a significant portion of the population, as part of optional curricula or as an educational cultural activity.
Article (4): All laws and exceptional measures that resulted from the 1962 census in Hasakah Governorate are abolished, and Syrian nationality is granted to all citizens of Kurdish descent residing in Syrian territories, including those unregistered, with full equality in rights and duties.
Article (5): The “Newroz” festival (March 21) is declared a paid public holiday throughout the Syrian Arab Republic, as it is a national festival representing spring and coexistence.
Article (6): State media and educational institutions are committed to adopting a unifying national discourse, and any racial or linguistic discrimination or exclusion is legally prohibited, with punishments for those who incite national strife according to existing laws.
Article (7): The relevant ministries and authorities are charged with issuing the necessary executive instructions for the implementation of this decree, each within its purview.
Article (8): This decree is to be published in the Official Gazette and shall be effective from the date of its issuance.
Ahmad Al-Sharaa
President of the Syrian Arab Republic
Damascus, 27 Rajab 1447 AH – January 16, 2026 AD.
