Co-Chair of Religious Commission: Centralized governance threatens diverse social fabric

Ibrahim al-Mohammed, Co-Chair of the Commission, noted: “Syria’s civilization spans more than seven thousand years, producing a wide religious, sectarian, and ethnic diversity. This diversity has not weakened peaceful coexistence among its communities; rather, it has strengthened social and economic relations.”

Syria is characterized by a uniquely diverse social fabric, encompassing a wide mixture of ethnicities and religions that throughout history have formed a rich mosaic of pluralism and coexistence. Ethnically, Syria is home to Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen, Circassians, Assyrians, and Armenians. Religiously, the population practices Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Yazidism.

Regarding sects, Islam in Syria includes Sunnis, Shias, Alawites, Ismailis, Murshidiyya, and Druze, while Christianity comprises Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant denominations, creating a distinctive model of religious and national pluralism in the region.

Al-Mohammed explained that sectarian, ethnic, and religious divisions are foreign to Syrian society, historically imposed through strategies aimed at fragmenting the region via targeted media campaigns and social media, serving the interests of external entities. Yet, the resilience and awareness of Syrian society have limited the impact of such divisive influences.

He stressed that the concept of a centralized nation-state contradicts the rights of minorities and sects, as it is based on a single national identity seeking to assimilate and erase diversity—a stance incompatible with Syria’s pluralistic society. “A centralized nation-state cannot protect community rights as it relies on exclusion, enforcing a single identity and language, which fundamentally contributed to the collapse of the Syrian state and the eruption of internal crises,” he said.

Al-Mohammed highlighted that the Autonomous Administration in North and East Syria represents an alternative model based on participatory governance and peaceful coexistence among all Syrian communities, employing co-leadership principles that promote equality between men and women and foster cooperation across diverse religious, sectarian, and ethnic groups. This project preserves community particularities within a unified national framework.

He concluded: “Syrians now realize that a return to centralized security-based rule is impossible. The only solution to the Syrian crisis lies in inclusive Syrian-to-Syrian dialogue among all components, aiming to create a safe environment that leads to a new democratic constitution, organizing community rights and determining the form of governance and the future of the Syrian state.”

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ANHA