Persons perceived to be opposing the SDF/YPG

COMMON ANALYSIS
Last update: June 2025

This profile refers to different groups perceived by the SDF/YPG as opposing them. It includes, in particular, political opponents and supporters of opposition parties, persons with perceived links to ISIL, Arabs and Christians in areas controlled by the SDF, and persons associated with Türkiye and/or the SNA.

Persons perceived to be opposing the SDF/YPG had been subjected to persecution (e.g. enforced disappearance, torture, arbitrary arrest) by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) which are still present and operating and there is no information available indicating that their approach towards persons perceived to be opposing them has changed.

Recent information also indicates that the SDF/YPG has been facing dissent from some Arab tribal factions in Deir E-Zor. Dozens of suspected Assad loyalists, National Defence Forces (NDF) militiamen and Sheikh Ibrahim al-Hafel supporters were arrested by the SDF. In the context of these clashes, several civilians were killed or injured in encounters with the SDF and Asayish fighters. The SDF also raided and shelled villages. Additionally, several civilians were injured as the SDF shot at young men in the aftermath of attacks against them. The SDF also reportedly shot at protesters demanding their withdrawal. 

Therefore, the assessment of the international protection needs of persons perceived to be opposing the SDF/YPG in ‘EUAA, Country Guidance: Syria, April 2024’ would largely remain valid. More specifically:

‘Acts reported to be committed against individuals under this profile are of such severe nature that they amount to persecution (e.g. enforced disappearance, torture, arbitrary arrest). When the acts in question are (solely) discriminatory measures, the individual assessment of whether discrimination could amount to persecution should take into account the severity and/or repetitiveness of the acts or whether they occur as an accumulation of various measures.

The individual assessment of whether there is a reasonable degree of likelihood for the applicant to face persecution should take into account risk-impacting circumstances, such as: regional specifics (who is in control of the home area of the applicant, if the applicant was located in any of the IDP camps), the nature of activities and the degree of involvement in activities perceived by the SDF/YPG as opposition, perceived affiliation with ISIL (see ‘Persons with perceived links to ISIL’) or with Turkish-backed forces, being known to the Kurdish authorities (e.g. previous arrest), etc. For further information on how these circumstances impact the risk, refer to the COI summary in ‘EUAA, '4.5. Persons perceived to be opposing the SDF/YPG' in Country Guidance: Syria, April 2024’.

Where well-founded fear of persecution is substantiated for an applicant under this profile, this is highly likely to be for reasons of (imputed) political opinion.’

Exclusion considerations could be relevant to some sub-categories of this profile, such as ISIL members and SNA members.