Syriac Union Party condemns attacks in al-Suqaylabiyah and calls for state intervention and accountability

The Syriac Union Party strongly condemned, in a statement, the attacks and acts of violence targeting civilians and property in the town of al-Suqaylabiyah in the Hama countryside.

The party said that what happened “is not a new incident”, noting that the town has witnessed similar tensions and attacks from neighbouring areas in recent period, despite understandings and agreements between local community leaders aimed at preventing such incidents from recurring.

The party called on state institutions to intervene firmly and lawfully and hold those responsible for the attacks accountable, stressing that transitional justice and accountability are the responsibility of the state and the judiciary, not individuals or groups. It warned that the absence of the rule of law and leaving matters to a logic of revenge and chaos threaten civil peace and increase tensions among members of Syrian society.

The party noted that the Internal Security Forces intervened to protect civilians and stop the attack, but stressed that state intervention must be proactive and continuous, with measures taken to prevent further attacks.

The party called for a transparent and independent legal investigation into the acts of assault, vandalism, and gunfire, identifying those responsible and holding anyone proven to have participated accountable. It also called for protecting civilians and their property and preventing threats and intimidation on religious or geographical grounds.

It further called for all parties to be required to respect local agreements and understandings and to renew them under the guarantee of state institutions, while working to reject hate speech, prevent incitement and discord, and hold those involved accountable.

The party also called for permanent and effective security measures to prevent further attacks, including allowing Christians to join the Internal Security Forces and participate in protecting their areas and property, in accordance with the structure and regulations adopted by the Ministry of Interior. It noted that continued refusal to allow this “leaves our people with the option of relying on self-protection”.

The Syriac Union Party affirmed that al-Suqaylabiyah, like every Syrian town and village, is part of the Syrian homeland, and that the security and safety of its residents are the responsibility of the state. It stressed that protecting all citizens, regardless of their religious or national affiliations, constitutes the foundation for building a state governed by the rule of law and achieving stability.

Sh-S

ANHA