Syria’s Druze calls for autonomy and dignity

Shafaq News – Damascus

On Thursday, Hikmat Al-Hajri, a prominent Druze cleric,
reaffirmed his community’s right to self-determination, highlighting it will
not be abandoned, regardless of the sacrifices required.

In a video statement, al-Hajri praised Druze worldwide for
their resilience, describing them as “one body” that confronts challenges
collectively and can manage local affairs to maintain security, stability, and
justice.

He also underscored the community’s aspiration for an
independent entity that ensures dignified living under international law,
pointing to numerous violations already documented by international
organizations.

“The Syrian government continues to erase evidence through
burning, demolition, and the use of internationally banned materials,” al-Hajri
stressed.

Extending gratitude to the United States, Israel, the
European Union, as well as Syria’s Kurdish and Alawite communities, al-Hajri called
for the opening of international crossings to lift the siege on Suwayda
residents.

The remarks follow clashes that erupted on July 13 between
armed Bedouin factions and local fighters, later drawing in Syrian government
forces and allied tribes. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
reported more than 1,400 deaths — mostly from the Druze community — and the
displacement of around 176,000 civilians.