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Al-Hijri Holds Damascus Responsible for Coastal Events... Rejecting Absolute Powers for One Person
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Sheikh Al-Hijri's condemnation of the bloody events in the Syrian coast reflects a clear position from spiritual leaders against exclusionary practices and sectarian violence, and confirmation of the
Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri, the spiritual leader of the Druze Unitarian Muslim community in Syria, revealed his categorical rejection of the Syrian constitutional declaration, demanding its reformulation on participatory democratic foundations that take into account the country's historical and cultural specificity.
In his statement, Sheikh Al-Hijri presented a comprehensive vision for constitutional reform, warning of the dangers of establishing a new dictatorship, and calling for a system that ensures the independence and separation of powers, with expanded authorities for local administrations and limiting presidential powers, in a clear reference to the importance of adopting a decentralized system.
Al-Hijri criticized what he described as "ambiguity, vagueness, and imposition of a one-color reality policy," indicating that the current phase is being managed unilaterally without real participation from various components of the people, which brings to mind previous centralized governance policies that led to the Syrian situation's crisis.
He explained that "the constitutional declaration that was issued came by the hand of a one-color committee, as if it were a continuation of the authoritarian regime, as it grants absolute powers to one person, establishing a new dictatorial authority," confirming that "the solution lies in organizing a participatory democratic constitutional declaration, with the participation of national specialists from all governorates."
Regarding the security events that some Syrian regions have witnessed recently, Sheikh Al-Hijri held the government fully responsible for the coastal events, considering that "what happened in Homs and the Syrian coast of brutal massacres against innocents brings to mind the atrocities of ISIS," adding: "When the question was about responsibility, it was said that they were individual acts, but we confirm that your factions represent you, and therefore you bear full responsibility."
The spiritual leader of the Druze questioned: "Why are strangers involved in our national army, police sectors, and state joints?" in reference to fears of marginalizing local competencies in favor of elements loyal to the central authority, similar to what was happening under the previous regime.
Sheikh Al-Hijri concluded his statement by emphasizing that "the Syrian people will not accept humiliation or underestimation of their will, and they are capable of achieving stability themselves, away from any imposition, monopolization, or masked decisions," in a message confirming the right of Syrians to self-determination and rejection of any attempts to impose a new centralized governance model that does not take into account diversity and local specificities.
