President Barzani: There Are Threats of Ethnic Cleansing Against Kurds in Aleppo

ARK News.. President Masoud Barzani stressed that political disputes “must not endanger the lives of civilians or lead to ethnic cleansing against the Kurdish people,” warning that such acts would constitute “crimes against humanity with grave and far-reaching consequences.”

In a statement issued on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, addressing the events in Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiya neighborhoods, President Barzani noted that the political changes in Syria have created a valuable opportunity to develop an appropriate roadmap that ensures respect for the legitimate rights of the Kurdish people in Syria and addresses all outstanding disputes.

He added: “From this standpoint, we have made sustained efforts with all parties, driven by our belief that all disagreements and problems must be resolved through dialogue and peaceful means.”

President Barzani warned that “the dangerous situation and the ongoing fighting and violence in the city of Aleppo are a source of deep concern and pose a serious threat to the lives of civilians and innocent citizens, amid threats of ethnic cleansing against the Kurds in that area.”

Full Text of the Message:

Message from President Barzani

In the Name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate,

The political changes in Syria have created a valuable opportunity to develop an appropriate roadmap that ensures respect for the legitimate rights of the Kurdish people in Syria and addresses all disputed issues.

From this perspective, we have made tireless efforts with all parties, believing firmly that all disagreements and problems must be resolved through dialogue and peaceful means. Nevertheless, the grave situation and the ongoing fighting and violence in the city of Aleppo are deeply concerning and pose a serious threat to the lives of civilians and innocent citizens, amid threats of ethnic cleansing against the Kurds in that region.

Accordingly, I call on the authorities in Syria not to turn a political dispute into an ethnic conflict, and not to allow Kurdish citizens in Aleppo to face pressure, repression, or displacement from the land of their forefathers, or to fall victim to ethnic cleansing.

I also call on Kurdish parties, particularly the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), to do everything possible to halt the fighting and clashes, prevent further bloodshed, and work seriously toward adopting dialogue and negotiation as the means to resolve disputes.

Political disagreements must not become a pretext for endangering civilian lives or committing ethnic cleansing against the Kurdish people. Such acts constitute crimes against humanity and carry dangerous consequences that must not be underestimated.

Masoud Barzani

January 7, 2026

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