The Syrian Sweida swings between different political currents

The Druze community in Syria is witnessing a state of political division and a variation in dealing with the deep changes in the country since the eighth of last December, which appears to blow fears and concerns among the people of the sect, the Israeli occupation is trying to invest in turning the Syrian south area of ​​influence free of arms. The new Syrian administration tried to dispel all the concerns of the Druze in the country, as President Ahmed Al -Shara received several delegations from the people of As -Suwayda to reach understandings that allow the state to exercise its duties in the province. The administration also seeks to reach an agreement with military factions in the province to control the escalating weapon, and integrate them into the strength of the new army.

The endosperm governorate is still witnessing an opposing movement and opposition to the general trend of the new Syrian administration, as the organized constitutional declaration rejected the transitional stage, last Thursday, considering that it “does not establish a democratic national rule, but rather a religious tyranny”, according to banners raised by demonstrators, on Sunday, in Al -Karama Square in the city of As -Suwayda, the place that has witnessed a community movement since mid -2023. As -Suwayda, which includes the largest number of Syrian Druze and is famous for its societal diversity, between several major currents that reflect divisions in visions about the future of Syria, between the absolute loyalty of Damascus and the opposition related to the religious leadership, reformist calls and claims of self -rule.

Three major currents in As -Suwayda

The current current of the current authorities in Damascus is considered the smaller between the different currents, and it is entirely biased to the administration and policies of President Ahmed Al -Shara, without expressing any reservation to their performance. The supporters of this trend consider that the country is most in need of stability at the present time to “confront external conspiracies”, and they see loyalty to the current authorities in Damascus, the only guarantee of Syria’s unity. According to one of the advocates of this current (preferred not to be named), “Syria is going through a crucial stage that requires adherence to leadership,” noting in an interview with “Al -Arabi Al -Jadeed” that “whoever criticizes the government forgets that the war has exhausted the country, and the alternative will be chaos.” He adds that “the Syrian people made serious sacrifices to the homeland. We do not want new experiences that repeat the mistakes of other regions.”

In the political scene in As -Suwayda, another stream is preferred to give an opportunity for the new administration with its accountability if it is wrong. This trend rejects the idea of ​​breaking with Damascus, but at the same time calls for accountability for those responsible for errors and empowerment of a new administration that shows flexibility in dealing with economic and security files. Media activist Hani Azzam, in an interview with “Al -Arabi Al -Jadeed”, says that “this trend supports reform from within, and demands that the corrupt be held accountable and the opening of a national dialogue.” According to Azzam, “the Syrian experience has proven that the overthrow of the state leads to a catastrophe, especially in the situation of the collapsed economy, but this does not exempt power from the responsibility of reforming itself.”

One of the loyalists of Sheikh Hikmat Al -Hijri: Sheikh Al -Hijri is our unbearable voice

As for the third trend, it is the current opposing power in Damascus and wrapping around the religious leadership in As -Suwayda. This current is described as the largest in the province, as it revolves around the spiritual leader of the Druze community, Sheikh Hikmat Al -Hijri, who adopts a letter opposing the administration in Damascus, and rejects any cooperation with it without a fundamental change in policies. This current is characterized by its vast popular structure that gives Hijri, religious, social and political legitimacy. But opponents of this current of elites criticize him for not having a clear political program outside the framework of the rejectionist discourse, despite their meeting with him in the explicit national line. One of the loyalists to Sheikh Al -Hijri, asking not to be named, told Al -Arabi Al -Jadeed, that “Sheikh Al -Hijri is our uninterrupted voice,” considering that “Damascus has not yet provided us that we are conservative and a Druze component other than marginalization and neglect.” He continues: “Therefore, we reject any negotiation with a government that had contributed during the war by destroying the country, and today contributes to its destruction by marginalizing pluralism and adopting a policy of one color.” In his opinion, “opposition to such a system is not only a political choice, but also an ethical responsibility.”

Other currents

In addition to these currents, there is a stream in which a number of not a few of the people of the province are included and adopts the call to secularism and activate the role of elites and civil society. This trend opposes power in Damascus and other currents in As -Suwayda, on top of which is the current, which granted full power in talking in the name of the province to the religious leadership. This current calls for a “break with the logic of absolute loyalties” by activating the role of intellectual elites and building a civil society and a secular state. His supporters are the most involved in intellectual discussions, but they face challenges in reaching the broad audience who prefers simple or religious speeches.

Hadi Al -Hussein: Secularism is not a hostility to religion, but a protection for diversity

The problem lies, according to political researcher Hadi Al -Hussein, “in the absence of active national civilian institutions that guarantee the peaceful circulation of power,” adding in an interview with “Al -Arabi Al -Jadeed” that “secularism is not a hostility to religion, but rather a protection of diversity.” He explains by saying: “We call for pluralism and participation in decision -making between all religious, political and cultural components in Syria.” In the context, political activist Jihad Shihab Al -Din stresses, in an interview with “Al -Arabi Al -Jadeed”, that the people of the endosperm governorate are adhering to “the unity of the Syrian geography and the Syrian people and reject any interference from outside the border and strive to establish the state system and salvation from the escalating weapons.”

Another political stream in As -Suwayda is active in Suwayda, whose supporters support the idea of ​​establishing a federal government in Syria, while giving the provinces wide administrative powers. Although supporters of this trend asserted that they “are not seeking separation or dependency on Israel,” they are attacked by other currents, and the Syrian society in general, which accuses them of “paving the way for division.” However, the activist Rabie Al -Kuntar explains to Al -Arabi Al -Jadeed that federalism is not a division, but rather a better management of resources, “adding that” self -judgment will guarantee our rights without the need for external guardianship. “

Military factions

Amid this contrast between the political currents on the Sweida Square, which agrees on the unity of the homeland and the Syrian people and places it above all considerations, several military factions that were formed before and after the fall of the regime of Bashar al -Assad, which is an unprecedented situation in the history of the southern province, which was dependent on “scarecrow” to confront any external danger. Factions agreed with the Ministry of Defense and Interior in the transitional government to join in agreed conditions. Among the most prominent of these allied factions: the movement of men of dignity and is led by Sheikh Yahya Al -Hajjar, and a faction added to Al -Karama and is led by Sheikh Laith Al -Balous, the son of the founder of the Men of Dignity, Sheikh Waheed Al -Balous, and the Ahrar Jabal Al -Arab, which is led by Sheikh Suleiman Abdul Baqi, and the faction of the mountain brigade led by Sheikh Shakib Azzam. There is coordination with the rally of the southern clans and some small groups, while this alliance has already begun to integrate and open the door for affiliation with the Ministry of Defense, and received logistical equipment and equipment from this ministry.

Yahya Al -Aridi: The demonization of the endosperm and the distraction of the masses.

On the other hand, there is a military gathering bearing the “name of the sons of the mountain” with nine armed factions that placed themselves at the disposal of Sheikh Al -Hijri. In the opinion of the academic, who is from the province of As -Suwayda, Yahya Al -Aridi, there is a “national stream in As -Suwayda.” In an interview with Al -Arabi Al -Jadeed, he explains that “when we say nationally, disappointing phrases such as separation, Israeli and sectarianism,” denouncing the attempts of some to question the patriotism of the people of As -Suwayda. Al -Aridi adds that he “is a defect to look at the endosperm like this,” noting that “the first union sit -in in the history of the Syrian revolution was in As -Suwayda in 2011. Participants to arrest at the time, and those who remained in the homeland participated in the intermittent endings during the years of the revolution and they were the pillar of its movement against the Assad gang from 2023 until his escape in 2024. The masses do not return Syria to the track of life. “

In addition, about 100 Druze sheikhs in Quneitra Governorate, southern Syria, went to Israel, last Friday, a clear indication that there is no complete political agreement between a segment of the Druze community and the new administration in Damascus. However, the visit raised the ire of religious and societal events in the Syrian Druze community, which was confirmed by one of the most prominent sheikhs of the mind in the Druze Almohads, Sheikh Abu Osama Yusef Jarbou, who said in radio statements: “The delegation warned us against exploiting the visit to political goals.” He explained that parties in the endosperm “are not satisfied with it,” noting that “there are those who are trying to separate us from our Arab and Islamic surroundings of political goals”, denying the existence of a “staring risk.”

Jarbou considered that the statements of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about his being prepared to “protect the Druze” in Syria is an attempt to “show us the appearance of the printed with Israel,” adding: “We are adhering to our Syria.” He affirmed his openness to the government in Damascus, noting that it “met international recognition and dealt positively with our demands.” Al -Jarboua’s comments came after Al -Hijri described the new authority in Damascus as “extremist”, and “required for international justice”, which deepened the state of lack of confidence between the two sides, and showed the size of the dispute in the Druze political street regarding the deep changes in the country.