Launch of the “Hora” Festival in Iranian Kurdistan
ARK News.. The town of Kozaran, located in the northwestern part of Kermanshah Province in Iranian Kurdistan, witnessed the launch of the “Hora” Festival, with wide participation from artists and enthusiasts of this authentic traditional art.
The festival saw a remarkable presence of numerous Hora performers—both men and women—who traveled from the provinces of Ilam, Kermanshah, Sanandaj, and Lorestan to take part in celebrating this tradition. The event highlighted the Hora vocal art, which has deep roots in the history and culture of the region.
According to historical studies, the Hora tradition dates back more than 7,000 years and is primarily practiced in the regions of Kermanshah, Ilam, and Lorestan, as well as the Garmiyan area in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Kozaran is predominantly inhabited by followers of the Yarsani faith, who regard this style of singing as an integral part of their cultural and religious identity.
Hora is a vocal art performed solo, without the accompaniment of musical instruments. Performers rely solely on their vocal abilities, expressing emotion through controlled vocal techniques and melodic ornamentation. This art form includes more than 70 musical modes, such as Saru Khani, Sahri, and Majnuni, among others. However, the lack of academic and institutional documentation has led to the loss of some of these modes over time.
Stylistically, Hora intersects with other Kurdish musical genres such as Mor, Bilura, and Syajmana. Its lyrics commonly explore themes of religion, love of homeland, romance, and sorrow.
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Mohammad Ismail: The Kurdish National Council Carries the Kurdish National Project
ARK News.. The European Representation of the Kurdish National Council (KNC) in Syria held an online political seminar presented by Mohammad Ismail, Secretary of the Kurdistan Democratic Party–Syria (PDK-S) and President of the Kurdish National Council. The event saw wide participation from those interested in national and political affairs.
The seminar systematically addressed the role played by the KNC in the Syrian political process, particularly amid the urgent need to reorganize national efforts toward a comprehensive political solution.
In his remarks, Mohammad Ismail affirmed that the Kurdish National Council represents the legitimate political framework that carries a clear and responsible Kurdish national project—one that reflects the aspirations and national rights of the Kurdish people.
The KNC President stressed that no genuine political process in Syria can be complete without an effective Kurdish presence rooted in a well-defined national vision.
He also touched on the presence of some Kurdish figures within Syrian state institutions, considering it a relative gain. However, he emphasized that such representation cannot substitute for constitutional recognition of Kurdish national rights, nor for the political settlement required to secure the Kurds’ rightful place within a democratic, pluralistic, and decentralized Syria.
Ismail reiterated that the KNC remains the political home responsible for carrying and defending Kurdish national demands, affirming that the Council will not accept symbolic positions within state institutions as a replacement for the fundamental rights the Kurdish people have fought for over decades.
At the conclusion of the seminar, Mohammad Ismail stressed the need to strengthen Kurdish unity, unify the national discourse, and make use of available political opportunities, noting:
• There will be no solution in Syria without Kurdish participation.
• We are ready for dialogue whenever genuine political will exists.
• The joint Kurdish delegation represents a historic opportunity that must not be lost.
• UN Resolution 2799 has opened a new window for political work.
• Our cause is a fundamental national right, not a temporary demand.
• Kurdish unity is a national necessity, not a choice.
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Kurdish Cardiologist Wins First Place at International Heart Conference in the UAE
ARK News.. A Kurdish specialist in cardiology and vascular medicine from Duhok has won first place at an international medical conference in the United Arab Emirates after presenting a highly complex clinical case.
Dr. Mohammed Salim Matar, a cardiologist at Azadi Heart Center in Duhok, participated in the annual conference of the Gulf Intervention Society (GIS).
During the event, Dr. Mohammed presented a successful case involving the treatment of a patient suffering from a complete occlusion of the left main coronary artery, one of the most critical and life-threatening cardiac conditions.
According to the information shared, the patient developed an acute myocardial infarction during the catheterization procedure, which involved stent placement and balloon angioplasty. Despite the severe complications and significant risks, Dr. Mohammed managed — through the use of several advanced interventional cardiology techniques — to stabilize the situation and save the patient’s life. The patient is currently in good and stable condition.
The General Directorate of Health in Duhok congratulated Dr. Mohammed Salim, praising his efforts and describing the achievement as a source of pride for the governorate’s healthcare sector and for physicians across Kurdistan.
Azadi Heart Center in Duhok is considered one of the leading cardiac centers in Iraq, performing thousands of cardiac surgeries and catheterization procedures each year and providing services to residents of Duhok and the surrounding areas.
The Gulf Intervention Society Conference is one of the most prominent scientific gatherings in the Middle East and the Gulf region, held annually in the UAE to discuss the latest research and innovations in interventional cardiology, with the participation of leading specialists from around the world.
Treating a completely blocked artery — known as a Chronic Total Occlusion (CTO) — is considered one of the most challenging procedures in interventional cardiology, requiring high levels of expertise and advanced techniques.
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Kurdistan Democratic Party–Syria Secretary Receives Secretary-General of the Revolutionary Left Current
ARK News.. Dr. Ghiath Na’isse, Secretary-General of the Syrian Revolutionary Left Current, visited the headquarters of the Kurdistan Democratic Party–Syria (KDP–S) where he was received by Mohammad Ismail, the party’s Secretary, along with several members of the Central Committee.
The visit by the Revolutionary Left Current delegation came as part of ongoing consultations aimed at exchanging views, assessing the current phase, and exploring prospects for the future.
During the meeting, both sides discussed the latest developments in the Syrian landscape, with particular focus on the political file, the course of a political settlement, and the challenges ahead.
The two parties stressed the need to seek a genuine political solution that ends the crisis and fulfills the aspirations of Syrians for freedom, justice, and dignity.
A significant part of the discussion was dedicated to the situation in the Kurdish-majority areas of Syria. The two sides exchanged views on the current administrative, security, and social challenges.
They also discussed ways to strengthen coexistence among all components of the region and to guarantee the legitimate rights of the Kurdish people within a unified, democratic, and pluralistic Syria.
The meeting further touched on the role of Kurdish political forces in the broader Syrian political landscape and their contribution to shaping the country’s future.
Both sides emphasized the importance of enhancing channels of dialogue and continuous coordination among all Syrian national forces— including leftist and Kurdish groups— to confront shared existential challenges.
They reiterated that any solution in Syria must be genuinely Syrian, with the participation of all components of its people.
Qamishlo
Kurdistan Democratic Party–Syria
Revolutionary Left Current
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Kurdish National Council Issues Statement Marking One Year Since the Fall of Bashar al-Assad’s Regime
ARK News.. The General Secretariat of the Kurdish National Council (KNC) in Syria released a statement marking one year since the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, which inflicted immense suffering on Syrians and subjected them to killing, displacement, and destruction throughout fourteen years of the Syrian revolution.
Below is the full text of the statement:
On December 8, we mark the first anniversary of the escape of the head of the dictatorial regime, Bashar al-Assad, and the collapse of his repressive security apparatus, which for decades practiced corruption and oppression, inflicted suffering upon Syrians, and killed, displaced, and destroyed over fourteen years of the Syrian revolution. The regime also targeted the national existence of the Kurdish people through numerous racist and abhorrent policies. This day became a historic milestone on a global scale and the beginning of a new era toward ending the suffering of the Syrian people—an achievement made possible by the sacrifices of Syrians, men and women, Arabs, Kurds, Syriac Assyrians, Turkmen, Muslims, Christians, and Yezidis, who all gave their lives and resources in pursuit of freedom and dignity.
On this historic occasion, the Kurdish National Council affirms that Syrians’ joy at the fall of tyranny and the collapse of the regime will not be complete until their aspirations are realized: the establishment of a just state that safeguards the freedoms and dignity of all citizens, ensures their effective participation in building a new Syria, and guarantees security, stability, and a dignified livelihood.
To transform these aspirations into a lived reality, the Council calls on the transitional administration to adopt a policy of openness and genuine dialogue with all national, political, and social components, engaging them in shaping the future state. In this context, the Council stresses that ignoring or sidestepping the Kurdish issue harms the path of state-building, stability, and the resolution of other pending national questions. Accordingly, the KNC urges the administration to open the door to direct dialogue with the Joint Kurdish Delegation—which has adopted a unified Kurdish vision for the country’s future and a solution to the Kurdish issue—in order to ensure its proper inclusion in the new constitution.
While Syrians celebrate this anniversary, it is necessary to address what the nation and the world recently witnessed during some of the celebratory demonstrations called for by President al-Sharaa: behaviors and hate-filled rhetoric targeting certain Syrian components. These actions cannot be dismissed as isolated misconduct; they are an extension of the division and discord sown by the former regime among the people of one homeland.
The continuation of such behavior and rhetoric threatens civil peace and undermines the foundations of the future state for which Syrians have paid dearly. The government bears the responsibility to hold all offenders and hate inciters accountable without exception, and must translate this into concrete actions that protect the rights of all components and preserve the national fabric. The most effective response to such discriminatory practices is to reinforce the values and culture of coexistence and to ensure constitutional guarantees of national and democratic rights for all communities without exception.
The new Syria that Syrians seek—and for which they have sacrificed—is a Syria of freedom, dignity, and coexistence: a democratic, decentralized country with a multi-ethnic, multicultural, and multi-religious identity, built and safeguarded through the will and partnership of all its people.
Glory to Syria’s martyrs, freedom for its detainees, and safe, dignified return for its displaced.
General Secretariat of the Kurdish National Council
Qamishlo — 7 December 2025
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Faisal Youssef Criticizes U.S. Envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack
ARK News.. Faisal Youssef, member of the Presidency of the Kurdish National Council (KNC) in Syria and the Council’s official spokesperson, criticized remarks made by U.S. Envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack regarding decentralization and its alleged failure in the Middle East and the Balkans.
In a post on his Facebook page, Youssef said: “Mr. Thomas Barrack’s statement at the Doha Forum—that decentralization has not succeeded in the Middle East and the Balkans, citing the experiences of Iraq, Yugoslavia, and Lebanon—ignores a fundamental truth: it was not decentralization that caused devastation, but rather the rigid centralization imposed by those states’ regimes, which deprived peoples of their national rights and rejected democracy and pluralism. The resulting crises and divisions continue to burden the peoples of the region to this day—not to mention the consequences of the Sykes–Picot Agreement in our region.”
He added: “The solution is clear and simple: democracy, decentralization, and empowering peoples to manage their own affairs—not returning to old prescriptions whose failure has long been proven, no matter how lengthy the debates in Syria and elsewhere over forms of governance become.”
Youssef continued: “There is no doubt that Mr. Thomas knows well that the most successful experiences globally are those built on decentralization, which has preserved stability and fostered development and prosperity.”
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UN Warns of Ongoing Serious Violations in Syria
ARK News.. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has warned that grave abuses continue to be committed in Syria, despite what it described as “encouraging steps” taken by Syrian authorities during the first year following the fall of former president Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Speaking at a press briefing in Geneva, OHCHR spokesperson Thameen Al-Khaitan said the measures adopted by the Syrian government—including the establishment of two national bodies for transitional justice and missing persons, the formation of investigative committees for violence in the coast and Sweida, the announcement of a draft transitional justice law, and the launch of trials related to coastal-area abuses—represent “important steps, but only a beginning.”
Al-Khaitan stressed that the UN office continues to receive “harrowing accounts” of summary executions, extrajudicial killings, and kidnappings, primarily targeting individuals from specific communities or those suspected of ties to the former regime.
Reported violations also include sexual violence, arbitrary arrests, looting, destruction of homes, forced evictions, property seizures, and restrictions on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, he added.
Al-Khaitan noted that much of the violence has disproportionately affected Alawites, Druze, Christians, and Bedouins, driven by a surge in hate speech “both online and on the streets.”
He also criticized the “rushed” integration of former armed groups into the new security forces without adequate human-rights vetting, warning that this approach risks enabling perpetrators of serious abuses to enter official institutions and could increase the likelihood of repeated violations.
The spokesperson underscored the need for independent and transparent investigations into all past and ongoing abuses, and for holding those responsible accountable in line with transitional justice standards.
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Canada Removes Syria from Its List of Foreign State Supporters of Terrorism
ARK News.. The Canadian government announced that it has removed Syria from its list of foreign states that support terrorism.
In an official statement, the government said: “These measures align with recent decisions taken by our allies, including the United States and the United Kingdom.”
Ottawa noted that the decision reflects the Syrian transitional government’s efforts to strengthen stability, build a secure and inclusive future for its citizens, and work alongside international partners to enhance regional stability and combat terrorism.
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand said that, following a comprehensive review conducted jointly with Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, the government reached its decision regarding Syria.
According to Anand, delisting Syria from Canada’s “State Supporters of Terrorism” designation was carried out in accordance with the State Immunity Act.
The government statement clarified that Canada continues to impose sanctions on 56 entities and 225 Syrian individuals under its Special Economic Measures Regulations on Syria, noting that these sanctions target senior members of the former regime, their relatives, and close associates.
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Assad Resigns Himself to Life in Exile as Rami Makhlouf Moves to Build Sectarian Militias
ARK News.. A Reuters investigation has revealed that two of the closest former power brokers of the fallen Syrian regime—Kamal Hassan and Rami Makhlouf—are attempting from exile in Moscow to assemble new sectarian militias made up of Alawite fighters from Syria’s coastal region and Lebanon.
According to the report, the two men, along with other loyalist factions, are spending millions of dollars to mobilize more than 50,000 fighters, “in hopes of sparking two uprisings against the new government and reclaiming some of the influence they lost.”
Four individuals close to the Assad family told Reuters that Bashar al-Assad, who fled to Russia in December 2024, has “largely resigned himself to living in exile in Moscow.” However, his brother Maher and other members of the regime’s inner circle continue to struggle with the loss of power.
Documents and interviews reviewed by Reuters indicate that Hassan and Makhlouf are seeking to take control of a network of 14 underground command rooms built near the Syrian coast in the late years of the regime, in addition to weapons depots. Two officers and a provincial governor confirmed the existence of these facilities, and images seen by Reuters appear to show detailed preparations inside them.
Hassan continues to communicate with field commanders and advisers, expressing in voice messages his “deep anger over losing his influence” and outlining visions for “how the coast should be governed.”
Makhlouf, meanwhile, has been portraying himself to his followers as a “savior” who will lead an ultimate battle, drawing on religious rhetoric and apocalyptic narratives found in certain Shiite traditions.
Neither Hassan nor Makhlouf responded to Reuters’ requests for comment, and intermediaries for Bashar and Maher al-Assad also did not provide any response.
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Samuel Zbogar: The United Nations Will Support Syria
ARK News.. The head of the UN Security Council delegation affirmed that the delegation’s visit to Syria aims to support the country’s sovereignty and unity, and to reaffirm its independence and territorial integrity.
Speaking during a brief press conference at the conclusion of the Security Council delegation’s visit — the first of its kind to Syria in 14 years — Slovenian Ambassador Samuel Zbogar said the United Nations “will support Syria in achieving a better future for all Syrians.”
Zbogar added that the delegation met with the Syrian President, Ahmad al-Sharaa, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shiaybani, as well as representatives of civil society and religious leaders.
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