-
The Supreme Legal Committee in Sweida rejects the statement of the Syrian Foreign Ministry and affirms the right of the local people to determine their own future
The Supreme Legal Committee in Sweida issued a statement in response to the Syrian Foreign Ministry’s announcement regarding what is called the "roadmap for resolving the Sweida crisis." In its statement, the committee reaffirmed its firm stance on issues of reconciliation and justice, rejecting the government's attempts to circumvent the demands of the population and emphasizing their legitimate right to self-determination.
The committee pointed out a clear contradiction in the foreign ministry’s statement, which claimed engagement with international investigations while simultaneously asserting that accountability would be conducted according to Syrian law. The committee described this as an illogical statement that undermines its legitimacy, noting that international justice is based on independence and neutrality, and that reliance on the Syrian judiciary is an unreliable measure.
Regarding the government's responsibility, the statement considered that portraying it as a neutral party conceals its true nature — involvement of security and military agencies in mass massacres and widespread violations against civilians, reflecting a policy of denial of responsibility and blatant impunity.
On another note, the committee emphasized the loss of confidence in the national judiciary, which it considers politicized and controlled by the executive authority, threatening any prospects for fair accountability through the Syrian judiciary. This, the committee argued, is an attempt to whitewash crimes.
Domestically, the statement criticized attempts to divide society through discussions about local councils and joint police forces, asserting that such measures aim to impose new guardianship and fragment the social fabric of Sweida’s residents.
On the right to self-determination, the committee confirmed that the committed crimes and the systematic marginalization and exclusion legally and morally justify the people’s right to self-determination—either through autonomous administration or secession, as a last resort to ensure security and dignity.
Finally, the committee called on the international community, the United Nations, and the Security Council to respect the choices of Sweida’s residents and to refrain from imposing forced arrangements. It emphasized the need to support the people’s right to self-determination outside government domination, through transparent international accountability that ensures perpetrators are brought to justice.
The committee concluded its statement by indicating that the events of July 2025 are not just tragic incidents but crimes against humanity, and that justice can only be achieved through an independent international process that guarantees the accountability of the perpetrators and the realization of the people of Sweida’s rights to freedom and independence.
