Protest of As-Suwayda against recent attacks in Damascus countryside

As-Suwayda citizens took to the streets to denounce the siege of the city and its rural areas, and to express their total opposition to the armed men backing the Damascus government and local militants' clashes in the countryside towns of Sahnaya, Ashrafieh Sahnaya, and Jaramana.

The protesters condemned the outright denial of what they described as the "policies of siege and strife" to Jaramana and As-Suwayda, pointing out that what is happening is the result of efforts to cultivate hatred and division among the Syrian people, under the initiative of "extremists" trying to spread sectarian language.

In a press release, a participant in the demonstrations blamed the authorities in Damascus for what transpired, charging Anas al-Habra himself directly with "manufacuring sedition" and inciting against Sunnis that resulted in death and humiliation of several students by "factions" he termed as "terrorist."

The activist went on, "Where is the position of Islamic law regarding such crimes? Where are the fatwas of specialists criminalizing identity-based murders, as did in fact happen recently along the coast? We condemn this suspicious silence on the part of some political and religious forces, and we condemn the position of some Daraa inhabitants defending terrorist forces at the expense of our shared fight against al-Assad regime."

For her part, a member of the "As-Suwayda Youth Gathering" underlined the province's persistent voices against injustice and violations, expressing the complete solidarity of As-Suwayda people with Jaramana and Ashrafieh residents in opposition to all sectarian or denominational targeting.

The activists concluded their message by stating that the Syrian revolution, which began for freedom and dignity, will keep rejecting anyone who commits or justifies crime regardless of position.

In the mounting violence, the Damascus regime declared a nighttime curfew in Sahnaya and Ashrafieh Sahnaya neighborhoods and began breaking into them. Jaramana witnessed an intense deployment of security forces and the movement of families who had left the city due to the security turbulence. Tha'la military airport in As-Suwayda countryside was also hit by unknown suspects with no casualties.

These come following the dissemination of an audio message containing "religious insults" to spark a surge of sectarian tension that overflowed to Syrian cities and university centers. Concerns over new violence and persistent fighting in parts of Damascus countryside continue to be nonexistent, with no sign of de-escalation so far.

ANHA