Press release
Syrian Opposition Coalition
Department of Media and Communications
March 12, 2024
Today, the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) solemnly commemorates the twentieth anniversary of the Kurdish uprising on March 12, 2004, against the Assad regime. Originating from the town of Qamishli and extending through Amuda, Afrin, Ayn al-Arab, Aleppo, and reaching Damascus. On this significant occasion, the SOC underscores the ruthless tactics employed by the Assad regime, both in the past and present, characterized by violence, arbitrary arrests, and the suppression of peaceful dissent.
Since day one, the Assad regime has sought to fracture the social fabric of Syria and sow discord among its people to maintain its oppressive rule. It responded to the uprising of our Kurdish brethren in 2004 with bullets and arrests, and later met the Syrian revolution in 2011 with sectarianism and egregious brutality against civilians, flouting international laws and disregarding human rights.
On this anniversary, the SOC extends its heartfelt salute to our Syrian Kurdish compatriots and the families of the fallen heroes who sacrificed their lives in the March 2004 uprising. The SOC reaffirms its unwavering commitment to national unity, freedom, citizenship, and pluralism, while upholding the principles of the noble Syrian revolution. It remains steadfast in its dedication to a comprehensive national project aimed at preserving Syria’s unity and safeguarding the rights of its people.
