During his visit to Berlin, Syrian interim president Ahmed al‑Sharaa affirmed his commitment to minority rights. “We are very diverse in Syria” he said after meeting Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the Chancellery. “Everyone should receive their rights, and we want to deepen the rule of law so that the constitution protects them all”. He spoke of a return to a “good form of coexistence” after the fall of the Assad regime, citing a decree on Kurdish rights and acknowledging the cultural heritage of Kurds.
Chancellor Merz welcomed al‑Sharaa’s statements, noting the significance of a pact with Kurdish communities. He added that the process of integrating Kurdish forces into the Syrian army is underway and supported the president’s view that the state alone must hold the monopoly on violence-a principle aligned with Germany’s concept of rule of law and separation of powers. Merz said that while many tasks remain, he is confident the president’s words will translate into concrete protections for minority and religious groups in Syria.
Al‑Sharaa has been in office since the end of January 2025. Before that he led the Syrian militia coalition Hay’at Tahrir al‑Sham (HTS), which helped topple the Assad regime but was also accused of serious war crimes. Since becoming president he has positioned himself as a moderate seeking closer ties with the West, though the security situation remains precarious for minority populations.
