The spiritual leader of the Druze community, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, renewed his support for the peaceful protest movement demanding political change in As-Suwayda, southern Syria.

In a statement on Monday, October 28, al-Hajri said that despite the deterioration, failure, and rampant corruption in all sectors of the state, and despite the unbearable suffering of the people, “those in charge of the country” have only presented their disconnection from reality, according to what was reported by the Suwayda 24 network.

He added that officials do nothing but invent new methods “to plunder citizens, tighten their grip on their basic needs, intimidate anyone who raises their voice, issue baseless rulings, and fabricate charges against the free men and women.”

Al-Hajri emphasized his support for the popular movement, stating, “We renew our standing by your side and support your legitimate demands and national constants.”

He also called on the international community and organizations to work more effectively to implement international resolutions and issue new resolutions capable of putting an end to the suffering of the Syrian people.

The residents of As-Suwayda have been protesting peacefully for over a year, demanding political change and the overthrow of the Syrian regime, at a time when a return to civil movements and demonstrations in the Syrian streets seemed unlikely, which had previously experienced protests in various regions and provinces before the political and military changes allowed the regime to regain some territory, while reinforcing the ongoing economic and living decline, without any tangible improvements in security or in response to the demands raised by Syrians since 2011.

Protests are ongoing

As-Suwayda is not new to protests, as the province has witnessed several waves of them over the past decade.

What distinguishes the current scene in As-Suwayda is the social solidarity, manifested in broader support from local professionals, artists, craftsmen, and others for the popular movement, along with the backing of the religious authority, which gives the street’s voice greater resonance and courage, prompting people from the villages and rural areas of the province to gather every Friday in the al-Karamah Square, reaffirming their demands.

The ongoing protests in As-Suwayda following the increase in fuel prices in August 2023, coupled with a bold individual discontent seen on the Syrian coast, and a calculated collective action in As-Suwayda, have drawn the attention of Western politicians and diplomats (including the US ambassador to the United Nations and envoys from Germany, France, and Britain to Syria), who perceive this scene as a break from the “narrative of the Syrian regime” that frames the movement within a specific sect or social component, praising the courage of the people of As-Suwayda and the legitimacy of their aspirations for justice, freedom, and the release of detainees.