Statement on the Dangerous Developments in Kobani and Hasakah

The Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) is following with deep concern the dangerous developments in the city of Kobani and several areas of northeastern Syria. These developments follow the killing of the fighter Sipan (Sami Sheikhmous Hisso) and the protests and other troubling events that followed. Several civilians and members of the security forces were injured. A number of prisoners also lost their lives after a protest began inside the prison and a fire was set there. The protest was in response to the forced transfer of prisoners to Aleppo and was followed by further deaths among those held in the prison.

At the same time, what happened in Kobani must not be treated as an isolated incident or reduced to a single account of events. The deaths and injuries among detainees and prisoners, along with the harm suffered by civilians and security personnel, require an urgent, independent, and transparent investigation. The investigation must establish what happened, determine responsibility clearly, and ensure that anyone found responsible is held accountable, regardless of their position or affiliation.

The SDC emphasises that peaceful protest and the peaceful expression of anger are legitimate rights. At the same time, it rejects any attacks against civilians, security personnel, or public and private property. It also rejects any use of force in violation of the law, any abuse of authority, or any provocative language or behaviour that could increase tensions and turn political and security disagreements into wider social conflict.

Furthermore, the SDC warns against turning these events into collective accusations based on ethnic, tribal, or political identity. It also warns against spreading unverified accounts before the investigations are complete. Arabs, Kurds, or any other community in Syrian society must not be held individually responsible simply because of their identity or affiliation. Additionally, the crime must not be used to justify actions that violate the law.

At this sensitive stage, state institutions have an even greater responsibility to protect citizens and ensure the safety of detainees and prisoners. They must keep their families informed about their condition. Anyone against whom no criminal responsibility is established must be released. Anyone found responsible must be referred to the courts and dealt with in accordance with the law.

What is happening today must not become another test of relations among the different communities of Syrian society. Nor should it become an excuse to return to armed conflict and political divisions along community lines.
The process of integration must not be blamed for a criminal act. Moreover, the crime must not be used as an excuse to undermine this process. Recent events show that the success of integration cannot be measured only by arrangements for transferring forces and responsibilities to state institutions. It must also be measured by the ability of these institutions to protect people’s lives and rights, apply the law fairly, and respect the specific needs of different areas and their residents within one Syrian state.

Accordingly, the SDC calls for an end to escalation and urges calm among the public. It also calls for urgent dialogue among political, social, and community leaders. All sides should work together to address the consequences of these events without incitement, generalizations, or retaliation.

Justice for the martyr Sipan and for all those who lost their lives in the events in Kobani requires an urgent, independent, and transparent investigation. It must establish the circumstances of his killing and the violations that accompanied it. It must also clearly determine responsibility and hold everyone found responsible accountable under the law, regardless of their position or affiliation. The findings should be made public. The lives and rights of civilians must be respected, and any use of force outside the law must be rejected. No one responsible for violations should be allowed to escape accountability. These steps are essential to strengthening civil peace, restoring public trust in state institutions, and preventing similar violations from happening again.

Syrian Democratic Council
September 12, 2026