The Kurdish-run, Arabic-language outlet Shams, which broadcasts from Erbil, has sparked a significant row after choosing not to broadcast a recorded conversation with Ahmad al-Sharaa, the Syrian President. Though filmed in Damascus this past Monday and scheduled for release that same day, the footage remained shelved during a period of high friction. This tension followed recent battles in Aleppo’s Ashrafiyah and Sheikh Maqsoud districts between the Syrian Arab Army and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which resulted in Kurdish units pulling back and lingering fears of new clashes in Dayr Hafir and Maskana in the eastern Aleppo countryside.
Shams Director Cites Risk of Inflaming Conflict
On Tuesday evening, Eli Nakouzi, the Director-General of Shams and the journalist who conducted the interview, spoke to his audience to clarify the decision. He explained that he had initially agreed to the meeting in hopes of “preventing further bloodshed” and delivering “a reassuring message to the Kurds,” despite being aware that “public opinion in Erbil opposed this meeting.”
Nakouzi characterized President al-Sharaa as “charismatic and highly intelligent,” yet noted that the production team found the President’s language regarding the SDF to be “intense and escalating.” While the interviewer attempted to elicit a more conciliatory tone, he reported that al-Sharaa continued to “intensify his criticism,” even while he “intelligently expressed sympathy for the Kurds.” During the recording, Nakouzi told the President: “This amounts to a declaration of war. This is a threat.”
Throughout the 53-minute session, Nakouzi observed that al-Sharaa had “run out of patience with the SDF and with Mazlum Abdi,” indicating that no further opportunities would be granted unless there was a return to previous agreements between the parties. Following the encounter, the Director-General consulted with various media and political experts to determine if airing the piece would soothe or worsen the situation. “The unanimous answer was that it would escalate the problem, in Syria and in Erbil,” he stated. He emphasized that he would not permit Shams to act as “a platform that stirs up strife or leads to clashes and killings paid for by innocent people, whether Syrian Arabs or Syrian Kurds.”
Internal Justifications and Reports of Threats
The station had first blamed “technical and logistical reasons” for the delay before confirming the interview would not be shown at all. Tima Reza, the Executive Director, informed Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that “the official position is what Eli Nakouzi announced,” and declined to offer further commentary.
However, outside reports suggest other factors may have been at play. A Kurdish security official told Al-Modon that Shams was threatened with an attack on its offices if the broadcast proceeded, pointing toward the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) as the source of the intimidation. While the channel did not confirm these security pressures publicly, the initial promotion of the interview followed by Nakouzi’s televised explanation led to intense speculation regarding these alleged threats.
Damascus Denies Justification for Censorship
In response to the media storm, the Ministry of Information in Syria released a statement to clarify the government’s stance. The Ministry maintained that the dialogue was held in a professional and free environment, asserting that President al-Sharaa addressed every topic “with complete openness and without constraints.”
According to the Ministry, al-Sharaa’s decision to speak with a Kurdish outlet—despite interest from numerous international and local media organizations—was intended to engage directly with various perspectives and highlight Kurdish rights “beyond organizational frameworks.” The Ministry further dismissed the idea that external pressures could excuse the suppression of a finished journalistic work. It argued that the public deserves access to diverse viewpoints and declared that the Ministry “retains its full right to broadcast the interview through its official platforms,” as there is “no professional or editorial justification” for keeping it hidden.
Broader Implications for Media and Relations
Public reaction to the cancellation has been deeply polarized on social platforms. While some observers praised the channel for prioritizing stability and avoiding escalation, others contended that the move was a result of bowing to security or political intimidation. Shams, which began its operations from Erbil in January 2025, was established to bridge the Kurdish and Arab worlds through cultural and political programming. This incident involving the al-Sharaa interview has now placed the young station at the heart of a debate regarding editorial independence and the complex dynamics of Syrian-Kurdish relations during a volatile period.
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