Enab Baladi – Hani Karazi

As-Suwayda protesters have completed their first year of protests, during which they demanded the overthrow of the Syrian regime and the implementation of UN Resolution 2254, defying the security grip of the intelligence services that tried hard to suppress the peaceful movement.

On August 17, 2023, the first spark of the As-Suwayda movement was ignited through a general strike represented by roadblocks and the closure of Baath party offices, government institutions, and municipalities, in protest against the regime’s increase in fuel prices and the poor living and service conditions.

The strike that began that morning in protest of poor living conditions quickly turned into a popular uprising with high political demands, calling for the implementation of UN resolutions regarding political change and the peaceful transfer of power in the country.

Anniversary celebration

As-Suwayda protesters celebrated on Friday, August 16, in al-Karamah Square in the city center, marking the first anniversary of the peaceful movement, with various delegations participating in the central demonstration.

According to Suwayda 24, delegations from Shahba and its villages to the north, to Salkhad and its countryside in the south, passing through Qarya to al-Mazraa, al-Jneinah, and Maf’ala, and other villages participated in the peaceful movement demanding freedom and change.

The Suwayda 24 added that protesters hung photos from previous demonstrations and evening gatherings, with their dates sequentially since the beginning of the uprising, and a large board carrying pictures of prominent journalists who contributed to covering the movement.

They also carried pictures of Jawad al-Barouki, who was the first protester killed by the Syrian regime, in addition to raising the picture of Merhej al-Germani, the leader of the Mountain Brigade, who was killed under mysterious circumstances.

A movement not born this year

From the moment the movement started, prominent community and religious figures in the governorate, led by the spiritual leader of the Druze sect, Hikmat al-Hijri, declared their support for the As-Suwayda movement and all its demands. Sheikh al-Aql Hamoud al-Hanawi and the majority of religious sheikhs joined in, announcing their support for the protests.

Writer Hafez Qarquot, a son of As-Suwayda, stated that this movement was not born only a year ago but is a cumulative state that began with the start of the Syrian revolution in 2011. Several demonstrations were held in As-Suwayda at the time, supported by the Bar Association, in solidarity with Daraa and other provinces, prompting the regime to besiege As-Suwayda.

Qarquot told Enab Baladi that after the siege of As-Suwayda and the regime’s security grip over the governorate in 2011, the movement would occasionally flare up before calming down again briefly. Previous calls for protests were made under various titles such as “We want to live” or “You are choking us,” until the most significant movement in August 2023, which has continued without interruption until now.

The demonstrations in As-Suwayda city began for the first time on April 15, 2011, with protesters chanting slogans of “Freedom, freedom” and “With our soul, with our blood, we sacrifice for you, O martyr,” in solidarity with the dozens killed by regime forces in Daraa and other Syrian cities.

Regime unable to suppress protests

The regime tried various means to suppress the As-Suwayda protest movement but failed. Journalist Nawras Aziz said, “The Druze community in As-Suwayda put the regime in an embarrassing position because it claims to be the protector of minorities, making it unable to act militarily and security-wise to suppress this movement as it did with other provinces.”

Aziz, a son of As-Suwayda, told Enab Baladi that the regime tried to suppress the movement by turning Sheikh al-Aql Youssef al-Jarbou’ against the protesters and employing some media tools, including Rafik Lutfi and Bashar Barhoum, to attack the movement and describe it as treacherous and seeking separation. However, these attempts were unsuccessful, and the protesters continued their movement demanding the overthrow of the regime.

Writer Hafez Qarquot said the regime tried to drag As-Suwayda into violence multiple times but failed, and the movement remained peaceful. The regime announced its intent to reclaim all of Syria, but a new war could be embarrassing for it, especially since its allies are unable to open new fronts due to Russia’s involvement in the Ukraine war and Iran’s conflict with Israel.

Qarquot warned that this regime is spiteful and vengeful and could resort to violence, tanks, and bombing to suppress the As-Suwayda popular movement if given the chance.

On February 28, protester Jawad al-Barouki was killed and another injured when regime forces fired randomly at protesters and in the air as they attempted to storm the security settlement center at the “7th of April” hall in downtown As-Suwayda.

To push the movement towards violence, Merhej al-Germani, leader of the Mountain Brigade, was assassinated last month, having played a prominent role in organizing and protecting the protests. There are accusations against the regime of orchestrating the assassination.

Additionally, bombs were planted several times in the al-Karamah Square, specifically before the central demonstration held every Friday.

During the recent period, the regime resorted to recruiting and arming some As-Suwayda residents to confront the movement, alongside successive security campaigns and military rallies around the governorate.

The most recent measure was the issuance of an expulsion notice by the central leadership of the Baath party on August 13 against “100 active members” in As-Suwayda because of their participation in the peaceful protests.

Reasons for the continuation of the protest movement

Despite the challenges facing the protests in As-Suwayda, they continued uninterrupted. According to journalist Nawras Aziz, the continuation of the movement is due to the presence of what he called the “Revolutionary trio,” meaning the movement continued because of three essential factors.

The first factor is that the movement included people from As-Suwayda with grievances and demands, including former opponents or those harmed by the economic situation and the regime.

The second factor is that since 2013, local factions formed in As-Suwayda, growing into a significant local force capable of protecting protesters against any attacks. These factions also supported the As-Suwayda movement, led by Men of Dignity Forces. Among the founders of the al-Karamah Square movement a year ago were the Mountain Brigade faction and the Free Men of Jabal al-Arab faction, among other factions.

Journalist Aziz added that the third factor in the revolutionary trio is the religious blessing for the movement, represented by Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri and Sheikh Hamoud al-Hanawi. On this basis, the revolutionary trio is complete, allowing the movement to continue for years without stopping. Sheikh al-Hijri said at the beginning of the movement that they would continue demonstrating for weeks, months, and years until the protesters’ demands are met.

In the same context, Hafez Qarquot, a former member of the Syrian National Coalition, said that As-Suwayda revolted after losing hope in the country’s future, and the protesters’ belief that the regime could not improve the general living conditions, aside from the security chaos and turning significant parts of the governorate into a corridor for drug smuggling. Therefore, the movement continues as long as the protesters’ demands are unmet.

Qarquot pointed out that women’s participation in As-Suwayda’s demonstrations motivated the continuation of the movement, where protesters felt like one family inside the squares. In addition, the presence of religious men who managed the movement rationally through statements and continuous follow-up, alongside coordination and harmony between different villages and towns and their participation in al-Karamah Square protests, all contributed to the continuation of the protests.

Uncertain future

After a year of As-Suwayda protests, questions remain about the future of this movement, which Nawras Aziz described as “uncertain,” pointing out that the continuation of the movement depends on changing international powers and interests, and the importance of support from other provinces. However, all areas under regime control have not supported the movement due to the security grip, limiting support to northern Syria areas.

Aziz added that the future of the movement hinges on its peaceful continuation. As long as the regime sees that this peacefulness has not yielded any results for the protesters and has not caused any harm to it, it has no problem with the movement continuing for several more years.

Hafez Qarquot considered that As-Suwayda’s demonstrations sent future messages to the displaced, who may have lost hope of returning to their homes, restoring their hope that they could return. The movement responded to the regime’s claims that this revolution is sectarian and aims to devour minorities, revealing that al-Assad does not protect any minority or majority but is there to dominate people.

The As-Suwayda movement was distinguished by the participation of representatives from various categories of the governorate’s residents, including the Health Sector Gathering, the Professional Gathering in As-Suwayda, the Teachers’ Gathering in As-Suwayda, and the Engineers Gathering in As-Suwayda.