Activists warn of power monopoly undermining transition phase

Syrians remain deeply concerned about the evolving situation on the ground, particularly amid a surge in hate speech and sectarian incitement in areas under the control of Damascus. Tensions have escalated, especially with threats targeting various communities under the pretext of state authority enforcement—recent incidents in Sweida and the Damascus countryside exemplify this trend.

The Political activist and member of the National Dialogue Conference, Nizar Abu Fakhr, stated, “The Revolution for Freedom and Dignity, which began in 2011, has persisted for 14 years with the goal of toppling tyranny and corruption, and establishing a democratic system that safeguards the rights and dignity of Syrians.”

He added that “the new authority that emerged after Bashar al-Assad’s flight has deeply disappointed Syrians by issuing a constitutional declaration that concentrated all powers in a single hand and by forming a government that excluded genuine national partnership.”

Abu Fakhr emphasized that the current authority “has disregarded international resolution 2254 and replaced the path of political transition with a strategy rooted in repression.” He referenced atrocities committed in the Syrian coastal regions and killings of Druze civilians in Sweida, Jaramana, and Sahnaya under the pretext of combating remnants of the former regime. “The sectarian rhetoric and incitement adopted by the current authority threaten civil peace and seek domination, rather than the rule of law as officially claimed,” he asserted.

In parallel, the political activist Jamal Darwish expressed concern that “the current transitional phase lacks popular consensus due to the exclusion of Syrians from meaningful participation and representation.” He warned of “a widening rift among Syrian communities driven by sectarian discourse and deepening divisions.”

Darwish further stressed, “Toppling the regime alone is insufficient. It is imperative to rebuild a national public opinion that fosters a renewed culture based on citizenship, power rotation, and respect for pluralism.” He pointed out that “the new ruling authority now controls the country's destiny and bears full responsibility for the success or failure of the transitional process. Critics are branded as heretics or apostates, which constitutes a flagrant violation of freedom of expression.”

Both activists called for “a reassessment of the constitutional declaration and reform of existing state institutions—including the Supreme National Security Council—to ensure balanced power distribution and restore public trust in the transitional process.”

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ANHA