Protests in Sweida, demands for Governor's dismissal

In a new development indicating escalating tensions in Sweida, dozens of protesters took to the streets today in angry demonstrations denouncing the petition submitted by Sweida Governor Mustafa Bakkour to the Public Prosecution Office. The petition included a list of names of several representatives of the "General Authority for Peaceful Movement," accusing them of "committing repeated violations, undermining the prestige of the government and public employees, and unlawfully interfering in their affairs and decisions."

The text of the petition stated that "the committee recently seized two offices within the governorate building during the governor's absence, under the pretext of pursuing corruption and administrative organization cases, despite their lack of official authority." The governor described this move as "a serious transgression that undermines the prestige of the state and requires judicial intervention."

For its part, the General Authority for the Peaceful Movement denied these accusations, considering the petition's contents "baseless fabrications" aimed at restricting their revolutionary activity and their relentless pursuit of corruption cases.

Lawyer and head of the Political Authority, Saleh Alam al-Din, told ANHA's agency on the sidelines of the protest that "this move is part of an attempt to bring symbols of the old regime back to the forefront." He noted that the authority had "begun, since the fall of the regime, trying to organize administrative work within the governorate and prevent the return of corrupt individuals to decision-making positions."

Alam al-Din explained that "the authority had been in direct coordination with the governor himself for about four months, and an office was allocated to it to pursue corruption cases. Today, everyone was surprised by the issuance of arrest warrants against the movement's administrative and political offices."

He stressed that this "action is a betrayal of previous agreements and represents a reversal of the understanding that prevailed during the past period."

For his part, Mufid Abu Ammar, a lawyer and member of the administrative office of the Political Committee of the Peaceful Movement, confirmed to our agency that the committee categorically rejects what he described as the "false allegations" issued by Governor Mustafa Bakour, considering them a direct targeting of peaceful activists who have been pursuing corruption cases for more than four months. He added that the committee does not carry weapons and has never done so at any time, and that it remains committed to the principles of the peaceful revolution and the rule of law.

A group of female activists also participated in today's demonstration, including Samaher al-Andari, who emphasized her full support for the "honorable free people," as she described them, emphasizing that those who came out at the beginning of the movement were carrying olive branches, not weapons, and that they deserve nothing but respect and support.

Protesters raised banners denouncing what they described as an "attempt to marginalize the state" by dragging honorable people into the courts on trumped-up charges. They demanded the dismissal of Governor Mustafa Bakkour and his accountability for what they considered "collusion" with corruption networks. They affirmed that they would continue their peaceful movement until the goals of the revolution are achieved and the rule of law and institutions are established.

This escalation comes amid a charged political climate in the city, where calls are escalating to hold accountable those involved in administrative and financial corruption, amid the continued absence of radical solutions from the government and growing popular discontent with the performance of local authorities.

ANHA