Fawza Youssef: Appointing Individuals Involved in War Crimes Sparks Public Anger and Threatens the Path to Understanding

In a striking statement to "Reuters" today, Friday, Fawza Youssef, head of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) negotiating delegation with the Syrian government, criticized the appointment of individuals in state institutions whom she said have a record of committing war crimes, considering that this step has provoked a wide public reaction and threatens the chances of building trust between the parties.

Youssef added that such appointments undermine any serious negotiating process and send negative messages to the communities that have suffered from the conflict, emphasizing the necessity for justice and accountability to be an essential part of any future political agreement.

Her statements come at a time when negotiations between the SDF and the Syrian government are facing repeated setbacks, amid international pressures to find a consensual formula that ensures the representation of all parties and achieves stability in northern and eastern Syria.