Druze protesters in Suwayda press for the right to self-determination
Shafaq News –Suwayda
On Saturday, thousands of the Syrian Druze community demonstrated in central Suwayda, southern Syria, under the banner of “the right to self-determination,” demanding a decentralized system of governance.
According to Shafaq News correspondent, demonstrators raised
Druze flags alongside Israeli flags and portraits of Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri,
one of the community’s leading religious figures.
Protesters voiced demands for greater political inclusion and autonomous governance, calling for international support in drafting a new Syrian constitution and fostering a national dialogue that ensures representation for all communities.
المطالبة باستقلال تام خلال مظاهرة في ساحة الكرامة بمدينة #السويداء تحت عنوان "حق تقرير المصير" pic.twitter.com/KX3cNwRfto
— المرصد السوري لحقوق الإنسان (@syriahr) August 16, 2025
The rally came on the heels of mid-July clashes in Suwayda between Druze groups, Bedouin tribes from nearby areas, and government forces that left dozens dead and wounded. Although a fragile ceasefire has been in place since July 19, tensions linger as residents remain wary of renewed violence.
