Democratic Conservative Party (Syria)
Democratic Conservative Party Arabic: حزب المحافظين الديمقراط | |
|---|---|
_logo.png){kind=logo} | |
| Secretary-General | Humaydi Daham al-Hadi |
| Founded | 2017 |
| Paramilitary wing | None official; de facto al-Sanadid Forces |
| Ideology | Conservatism Arab tribal interests[1] Economic liberalism[1] Anti-racism[1] |
| National affiliation | Democratic Nation List |
| People's Council | 0 / 250 |
| Website | |
The Democratic Conservative Party (Arabic: حزب المحافظين الديمقراط), also known simply as the Conservative Party, is a political party founded in 2017 that operates in Rojava, a de facto autonomous region in northeastern Syria.
History
[edit]The Democratic Conservative Party emerged in the context of the Syrian Civil War. In course of this conflict, the Syrian government lost control of the country's northeast, where the mostly Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) assumed power. It founded an unrecognized proto-state, widely known as "Rojava", with its own constitution, government, and military. In order to safeguard and expand this proto-state and gain recognition and acceptance among the region's population of Kurds, Arabs, and other ethnic as well as religious groups, the PYD forged alliances with other regional actors. One of the PYD's most important allies was the Syrian branch of the Shammar tribe, led by Humaydi Daham al-Hadi. He organized a tribal militia, known as Army of Dignity and later al-Sanadid Forces, to fight alongside the PYD's armed wings (YPG/YPJ) against other militant groups during the civil war.[2][3]
In August 2017, Humaydi Daham al-Hadi met at Qamishli with representatives of several Arab tribes that lived in Rojava's Jazira Region. Anticipating the upcoming regional elections, the tribal representatives agreed to organize a party which they dubbed the "Democratic Conservative Party" with the motto "Syria is a homeland for all Syrians."[4] Humaydi Daham al-Hadi was chosen as secretary general,[1] and Akram Mahshoush, a Jubur tribal leader, was appointed deputy secretary general.[1][5] The party participated in the regional elections of December 2017 as part of the PYD-led Democratic Nation List.[6] Since then, the party established a presence throughout the Jazira Region, such as at al-Qahtaniyah,[7] but also in other areas including Raqqa.[4]
The party sent representatives to the "Meeting and Progress" Dialogue in late 2018,[8] and the 2nd Middle East Youth Conference at Kobanî on 20 February 2019.[9] It has repeatedly voiced support for talks between the northeastern administration under the PYD and the Syrian government,[5][10] and has condemned the Turkish occupation of northern Syria.[11] In March 2020, the Democratic Conservative Party was one of 31 parties which signed a statement rebuffing President Bashar al-Assad's claim that the ruling elements in northeastern Syria did not represent the area's majority.[12]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e ""المحافظين الديمقراطي" حزبٌ جديد يُعلن عن نفسه في قامشلو" [The Democratic Conservatives are a new party declaring itself in Qamishlo]. buyer (in Arabic). 28 August 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
- ^ Hassan Hassan (2017), p. 3.
- ^ Kheder Khaddour; Kevin Mazur (28 February 2017). "Eastern Expectations: The Changing Dynamics in Syria's Tribal Regions". Carnegie Middle East Center. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
- ^ a b Amena Riyad (13 July 2018). "Kurdish People's Protection Units intelligence services close Democratic Conservative Party offices in al-Raqqa". Smart News. Archived from the original on 24 September 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
- ^ a b "Eastern Euphrates: Tribal Leaders Call on Kurdish Militias to Hold Unconditional Talks with Damascus". Fars News. 18 August 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
- ^ "Electoral Commission publish video of elections 2nd stage - ANHA". Hawar News Agency. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-27.
- ^ Rinas Remo (7 October 2018). "Political spring flourished in North Syria after 19 July Revolution". Hawar News Agency. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
- ^ ""Meeting and Progress" Dialogue to be held with opposition figures' participation from home, abroad". Hawar News Agency. 28 November 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
- ^ "Second Middle East Youth Conference to be held in Kobanê". ANF News. 17 February 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
- ^ Hasan Borhan (21 November 2018). "National Army ends its security campaign in Jarabulus city; displaced man dies in Rukban camp". Smart News. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
- ^ "Akram Mahshoush: Partition wall aims to erase Kurdish identity, settle mercenaries". Hawar News Agency. 28 May 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
- ^ "Kurdish parties responds to al-Assad: Kurdish parties responds to al-Assad: Components are authentic in their areas before drawing borders of current Syrian state". Hawar News Agency. 6 March 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
Works cited
[edit]- Hassan Hassan (2017). "The Battle for Raqqa and the Challenges after Liberation" (PDF). CTC Sentinel. 10 (6). West Point, New York: Combating Terrorism Center: 1–10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-10-09. Retrieved 2017-06-28.