Suwayda Protest Backs al-Hijri, Seeks Self-Determination

Hundreds of supporters of Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri gathered in al-Karama Square in central Suwayda, southern Syria, on Saturday, April 11, for a rally under the slogan “Guardians of the Blood,” denouncing what they described as arbitrary government decisions and demanding the right to self-determination.

According to Enab Baladi’s correspondent in Suwayda, participants denounced what they called arbitrary government decisions and called for self-determination. They also chanted popular slogans and raised banners bearing various phrases, including “We will not forget, we will not forgive” and “The National Council represents me,” expressing their positions and rejection of the current reality.

Participants also raised photos of Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and victims of the July events, alongside Druze flags and the Israeli flag.

Dissolving the “Legal Committee”

The protest came after al-Hijri announced the dissolution of the “Higher Legal Committee” and the formation of the “Administration Council in Jabal Bashan,” assigning Judge Shadi Marshid to form it.

According to a statement published by the Spiritual Presidency of the Druze community on April 7, the move comes as part of a new phase of organization following the challenges Suwayda has faced since the events of July 2025.

The statement said the current administration is a “crisis administration” aimed at rescuing society from the consequences of the “siege and the recent aggression,” securing a dignified life for residents, and protecting internal security from attempts to fracture the social fabric.

The “Higher Legal Committee” and National Guard forces had been managing Suwayda’s administrative affairs. Both bodies are affiliated with the Druze spiritual leadership, after the committee rejected, in October 2025, any interference by what it called the “Damascus government” in Suwayda’s affairs.

The July Events

These developments come amid continuing debate over the events Suwayda witnessed in July 2025, and the widespread violence that accompanied them, which led to heavy casualties and the displacement of large numbers of residents, according to local and international reporting.

The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, affiliated with the United Nations, documented serious violations during those events, including killings, violence, and displacement, describing successive waves of escalation involving multiple parties.

Report of the National Investigation Committee

By contrast, the National Investigation Committee in Syria said the events included individual violations, noting that judicial steps had been taken against a number of those involved. It also stressed the principle of accountability and the need to prevent impunity, while saying that the partial overlap with the international report strengthens the credibility of the documentation and serves the course of justice.

Official bodies also called for making use of the findings of the national and international reports to strengthen legal accountability, amid continuing debate over the nature of the events, the responsibilities of the different parties, and the humanitarian and security consequences they left in the governorate.

Suwayda Education Employees Strike Over “Chaos”

The post Suwayda Protest Backs al-Hijri, Seeks Self-Determination appeared first on Enab Baladi.