Sharabin Tribal Leader: Tribes reject hate Speech, Reaffirm commitment to social unity

Amid a rise in hate speech in parts of Syria's Hasakah province, Sheikh Mohammed Arif Al-Hamdoun, a leading figure of the Sharabin tribe in Syria and Iraq, said Syrian tribes reject all attempts to incite sectarian tensions among the country's communities. He stressed that the shared heritage of Arabs, Kurds, and Syriac Assyrians is a historic legacy that must be preserved, while calling on the transitional government to hold accountable anyone seeking to undermine civil peace.

Sharabin Tribal Leader: Tribes reject hate Speech, Reaffirm commitment to social unity
26 July, 2026   05:14
QAMISHLO
KENAN AL-SAYED

The remarks come as community voices continue to condemn inflammatory rhetoric promoted by individuals accused of attempting to destabilise security, fuel sectarian discord, and drag the region into conflict after failing to achieve those aims through other means. Many have called for reinforcing the values of coexistence and prosecuting those who incite violence and intercommunal fighting.

Speaking to ANHA, Sheikh Al-Hamdoun said Arabs, Kurds, Syriac Assyrians, and other Syrian communities have lived side by side on this land for thousands of years, bound by strong social, humanitarian, and tribal ties. He said the region's people share customs, traditions, and values rooted in mutual respect, cooperation, and solidarity.

He added that Syrian tribes have historically been a source of stability and peace and have never sought to provoke disputes or conflicts among communities. Preserving civil peace and avoiding anything that leads to division or fragmentation, he said, remain among the core principles upheld by the tribes.

Al-Hamdoun stressed that all tribes reject attempts to spread sectarian or ethnic hatred among Syrians, adding that anyone claiming to speak on behalf of the tribes while promoting sedition or incitement represents only themselves, not the recognised tribal elders and leaders known for fostering peace and strengthening coexistence.

He also accused external actors of backing certain individuals to sow discord in the region, alongside media outlets and social media platforms that spread hate speech and incitement between Syria's communities. He said the people of the Jazira recognise the danger of such efforts and will not allow them to tear apart the social fabric they have preserved for decades.

Describing the Jazira as a longstanding model of coexistence between Arabs, Kurds, and Syriac Assyrians, Al-Hamdoun said its communities are united by ties of neighbourliness, brotherhood, and a shared destiny, sharing both celebrations and hardships. He stressed that these bonds are stronger than any attempts by individuals to incite division.

He urged the transitional government to fulfil its responsibilities by taking legal action against anyone attempting to provoke unrest or spread hate speech among Syrians, stressing that safeguarding civil peace is both a state responsibility and a shared duty of society and the tribes.

Al-Hamdoun added that tribal elders in the Jazira reject all external interference aimed at undermining security and stability or weakening the historic relations between the region's communities. He said the tribes would continue to play their role in social reconciliation and in promoting dialogue and tolerance.

Concluding his remarks, Sheikh Mohammed Arif Al-Hamdoun called on tribal elders across Syria to unite, uphold the tribes' longstanding values, and work together to preserve coexistence among all communities. He stressed that the unity and solidarity of Syrians remain the fundamental guarantee for protecting civil peace and building a future of security and stability.

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ANHA