Human rights activist: escalating violence deepens divisions; threatens Syria’s unity

Human rights and humanitarian activist, and General Coordinator of the Free Will Conference in Suwayda, lawyer Othman Mohammad al-Issami, warned of the dangers of the escalating violence, crimes, and violations committed by Syria’s transitional government against various Syrian components. He considered these developments to reflect an alarming trajectory that threatens civil peace and national unity, amid the absence of comprehensive political and security solutions.

In a statement to ANHA agency regarding the escalation of violence against Syrian components and sects by the forces of the transitional government, and the rise in hate speech, Al-Issami said that December 8, 2024 represented, in his view, a pivotal moment in Syria’s history. He described it as the beginning of the end of a long era of oppression and authoritarianism, noting that Syrians’ aspirations at the time were directed toward restoring a state based on national unity and equal rights, as expressed in the slogans of popular protests, particularly in al-Karama Square in Swedia.

Al-Issami explained that the current scene has been marked by an escalation of violent acts targeting various Syrian components, from the coast to the Damascus countryside and to Swedia, followed by a renewed return of violence to the coastal and interior regions of Syria. He considered that these developments have heightened the fears of societal components and pushed them to demand broader political and administrative guarantees, including forms of decentralization or even the right to self-determination, as a means of preserving their existence and security.

In his assessment of the protests witnessed in Syria’s coastal areas and the response of government forces, Al-Issami stated that the outbreak of popular demonstrations and the occurrence of violent incidents and clashes in some areas reflect a growing lack of trust. He warned that violent with peaceful protesters, including the use of weapons and live ammunition, could open the door to a new cycle of reciprocal violence and increase the likelihood of sliding into broader conflicts.

He added that the continuation of this approach could further complicate the political and security landscape and place Syria’s transitional government under mounting internal and external crises, amid intertwined international interests and increasing demands from societal components for guarantees of their rights.

The human rights and humanitarian activist and General Coordinator of the Free Will Conference in Suwayda, lawyer Othman Mohammad al-Issami, stressed that the persistence of the transitional government and the status quo without fundamental and comprehensive solutions will lead to further division and instability. He called for adopting a political approach based on dialogue, respect for the rights of all components, and preventing the country from sliding into dangerous scenarios that would undermine Syria’s unity and future.

ANHA