Jabour Sheikh: Hate speech serves foreign agendas

Against the backdrop of mounting political and social challenges in Syria, and amid rising sectarian rhetoric and attempts by certain actors to sow discord, voices of wisdom are calling for national unity, rejection of division, and adherence to reason.

In statements to ANHA Agency, Sheikh Al-Melhhem — son of Sheikh Hamad Al-Asaad Al-Melhhem — underscored the importance of preserving Syria’s social fabric, rejecting sectarianism and futile conflicts, and urged tribes and communities across Syria to unite and sit at the dialogue table to save the country from cycles of conflict and foreign interventions threatening its future.

He stressed that Arab and Kurdish tribes should not heed voices from beyond Syria’s borders or those seeking to interfere in Syrian affairs. History, he said, had shown that foreign interventions have consistently produced negative outcomes for Syria and its people.

Al-Melhhem emphasized that violence brings only tragedies. He urged Syria’s tribes and local populations to avoid sectarian conflicts and wars, and to adopt dialogue instead. He noted that all Syrians — from Suwayda to Daraa, from the coast to Deir ez-Zor — belong to one nation and must unite for the common good.

Highlighting Syria’s shared history of resistance, Al-Melhhem recalled that fighters and martyrs from all communities — Druze, Alawite, Kurdish, and Arab alike — had resisted colonialism in the name of Syria, without sectarian divisions.

He further underlined the deep historical ties between Arabs and Kurds, especially in Hasakah, where kinship bonds and fraternal coexistence with Christian communities have prevailed for centuries.

Al-Melhhem warned of attempts to undermine the region’s social cohesion, affirming that the unity of the country and its people is a “red line” that will not be compromised. Those inciting sectarian discord, he said, are pursuing personal gain, and the people must reject such agendas to spare future generations the scourge of war.

He added: “If Syrians unite, as we do here in North and East Syria, we will achieve our aspirations. We must be together, not divided, and therefore we should work toward uniting all Syrians under one government and one homeland.”

Sheikh Al-Melhhem addressed all Syrians, saying: “My message to Syrians across the country is to act with reason and not be drawn into foreign schemes or the agendas of those seeking to destroy our homeland, Syria.”

Referring to the recent events in Suwayda, Sheikh Al-Melhhem stated: “What happened in Suwayda is a case of sedition, and we pray that reason will prevail. We always remember Sultan Basha Al-Atrash, who resisted the French Mandate, and we continue to honor such national figures.”

Concluding his remarks, Sheikh Al-Melhhem urged the Interim Government to sit with genuine tribal elders, rather than showcasing figures who shift allegiances with each ruling faction. He stressed the importance of elevating leaders who act with wisdom rather than those driven by fluctuating personal interests.

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ANHA