Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced a groundbreaking decree on January 17, 2026, formally recognizing Kurdish as an official national language for the first time since 1946.
The order, issued amid the Syrian army's advance into Deir Hafer following SDF clashes, elevates Kurdish alongside Arabic in official use and declares Nowruz a national holiday. It also restores citizenship to thousands of stateless Kurds stripped of rights under past regimes. Coming days after eastern Aleppo tensions, al-Sharaa framed it as essential for national unity during stalled integration talks with Kurdish-led forces.
This move addresses long-standing grievances, positioning Syria as more inclusive post-Assad while countering PKK accusations fueling Turkish pressure. Analysts see it as diplomatic outreach to secure SDF merger without force, though implementation details remain pending.
