Protesters in As-Suwayda governorate, southern Syria, went out today, Friday, August 2, in a new demonstration, affirming the continuation of their peaceful movement for the 352nd consecutive day.
The local Suwayda 24 news network reported that crowds of protesters flocked from various villages and areas of the governorate to participate in the central demonstration in al-Karamah Square.
The protesters expressed their solidarity with the victims of the Majdal Shams attack in the occupied Golan, where they observed a minute of silence in mourning for their souls, raised their photos, and chanted slogans against Hezbollah, accused of the attack.
Majdal Shams was subjected to a rocket attack on the evening of July 28, which resulted in the killing of 12 children. Israel accused Hezbollah of being behind the attack, while the latter denied responsibility.
Representatives from various groups of the governorate’s residents, including the Health Sector Gathering, the Professional Gathering in As-Suwayda, the As-Suwayda Teachers Gathering, and the As-Suwayda Engineers Gathering, participated in the demonstration.
The banners published by Suwayda 24 included images and phrases condemning the Majdal Shams massacre, and others denouncing the complicity of the Syrian regime’s president, Bashar al-Assad, with Iran.
Suwayda 24 explained that the activists in the village of Shaqa in the As-Suwayda countryside organized this week’s central demonstration in al-Karamah Square, where they welcomed the residents at the square’s entrance, reaffirming through their designed banners their commitment to the peaceful protest movement until achieving Syrians’ demands for justice and a peaceful transition of power.
Each Friday, a village or town in As-Suwayda takes on the task of organizing the central demonstration in al-Karamah Square. Last week, activists in the village of al-Jneineh in the As-Suwayda countryside organized a demonstration.
As-Suwayda governorate continues its peaceful movement demanding political change and the overthrow of the regime since August 17, 2023, amidst repeated attempts by the regime to abort this movement.
On July 15, a group of protesters in As-Suwayda was fired upon by Syrian regime forces fortified in the building of the Baath Party branch headquarters in the city, after protesters attempted to re-close the building, resulting in a civilian being injured during a demonstration near the same building.
A civilian also died from wounds inflicted by Syrian regime forces during his participation in an anti-regime demonstration near the “settlement” center in the city center on February 28.
Protesters in As-Suwayda had previously come under fire from regime forces fortified in the Baath Party branch headquarters building in the city, on September 14, 2023.