Hundreds Rally in Suwayda Backing Sheikh Hikmat al‑Hijri

Protest and new local council

Hundreds of supporters of Sheikh Hikmat al‑Hijri gathered in al‑Karama Square in central Suwayda on April 11 under the slogan “Guardians of the Blood,” denouncing what they called arbitrary government decisions and demanding the right to self‑determination. Demonstrators chanted slogans, displayed banners reading messages such as “We will not forget, we will not forgive,” and held photos of al‑Hijri, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and victims of the July events alongside Druze and Israeli flags. The rally followed al‑Hijri’s decision to dissolve the Higher Legal Committee and establish an "Administration Council in Jabal Bashan," tasking Judge Shadi Marshid with forming the new body; the Druze Spiritual Presidency described the move as a temporary “crisis administration” to address the fallout of the July incidents and protect local security and livelihoods.

Context and accountability debates

The developments come amid ongoing controversy over the violent July 2025 events in Suwayda that generated heavy casualties and large‑scale displacement. The UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry documented serious violations, including killings and forced displacement, while Syria’s National Investigation Committee described the incidents as involving individual violations and said judicial measures have been taken against some suspects. Syrian and local authorities have called for using both national and international findings to bolster legal accountability, even as debate continues over responsibility for the violence and the humanitarian and security consequences for the governorate, as reported by Enab Baladi