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Widespread Discontent Among Druze in Sweida After Official Event Ignoring the Sanctity of Funeral Prayers
The "Sweida We Are Part of It" campaign concluded its activities after raising more than $14.6 million in donations aimed at supporting service and development projects in Sweida Governorate, as part of an initiative to strengthen civil peace and restore national unity, according to the campaign organizers.
A wave of deep dissatisfaction has emerged among the residents of Sweida, especially among the Druze community, following the organization of an official event by the Damascus government in a square designated for funeral prayers in the village of Al-Soura Al-Kubra, near the northern entrance of the governorate. This area is under the control of government forces, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Local sources reported that this event was held upon instructions from Sweida’s governor, Mustafa Bakour, who is the first governor to assume the position since Ahmed al-Shara’a took over the transitional government.
The mentioned square is considered a sacred place for the Druze community, used for funeral and condolence ceremonies. However, the recent event included the installation of loudspeakers and the playing of songs and music in the area, which is supposed to be a place of farewell to the deceased. This caused widespread discontent, and the scene provoked anger among residents, who saw it as a blatant violation of their sacred sites and a mockery of their feelings.
Residents of the area expressed their denunciation, emphasizing that this step constitutes a violation of the sanctity of places of worship and mourning, and it is an insult to the victims of Sweida who fell during sectarian attacks and executions over the past years.
Amid this rising tension, which has intensified in recent months, such an event raises questions about the extent of ongoing systematic violations against civilians in the region.
