A GROUP of Crediton people have sent a letter to Mel Stride, the MP for Central Devon, about the situation in North East Syria.

It reads: “As members of WRC (Welcoming Refugees in Crediton), we are writing to raise our serious concerns about the very dangerous situation in the ‘Kurdish Autonomous Area’ in Syria.

We appreciate that the situation is complex, but we have several major concerns:

1) We understand that the attempt to integrate the SDF, the (Kurdish-led) Syrian Democratic Forces, into the Syrian Army has involved armed conflict and attacks by the Syrian Army on Kurdish towns and villages, with high numbers of assaults and casualties.

2) That the West has not mobilised to support the Kurds, even though they gave 12 years of support to fighting ISIS, and guarding the camps where ISIS prisoners were kept. This was in support of our aim of protecting the world from ISIS. This feels like a betrayal.

3) It is very important that the rights of minorities to peaceful co-existence, women’s rights, and democratic values in Syria are protected. This is not happening under the present Syrian government. We have heard reports of widespread deaths and injuries in the Kurdish civilian community, including women and children.

4) Up to this point, we understand that recognition of Kurdish rights to autonomy and to the use of their own language have not been written into the new Syrian constitution. This needs to be rectified.

We would ask you to discuss this issue with your parliamentary colleagues, and with the Foreign Office and to ensure that it is raised at Prime Minister’s Question Time. Please will you confirm what action you are able to take.

Gerald Conyngham, Caroline Romijn, Chris Freeman, Natalia Letch, Jenny Berg, Jonathan Berg