The Supreme Fatwa Council in Syria has warned against slipping into "internal strife" amid escalating tensions in the southern province of Suwayda.
اضافة اعلان
In a statement issued early Saturday, as violent clashes intensify between Arab tribal forces and some Druze groups following a government forces’ withdrawal under a local agreement, the Council emphasized Islamic principles that forbid the shedding of blood and internal discord.
The Council strongly condemned sectarian incitement and warned against seeking support from "the Zionist occupying enemy," as the statement put it.
It underscored the sanctity of the lives of women and children, the prohibition of attacks on civilians and the vulnerable, and the immorality of forcibly displacing people — regardless of their sect.
The statement called for distinguishing between those who collaborate with the enemy (in reference to Israel) and Syrian citizens from all sects and components who are partners in the homeland.
The Council also stressed that sectarian incitement through inflammatory rhetoric is forbidden, warning of its dangerous impact on the fabric of national unity.
It further affirmed that the state’s religious duty is to protect all citizens, maintain security, prevent sedition, deter aggressors, and aid the displaced and affected — without any sectarian or regional discrimination.
On Friday evening, the Syrian presidency urged all armed parties in Suwayda to exercise restraint and prioritize reason, pledging to send a specialized force to end the clashes and resolve the conflict.
The presidency stated that Syria’s position on the Suwayda events is rooted in a steadfast principle: upholding civil peace, not vengeance; confronting chaos with the rule of law, not further disorder; and responding to aggression with justice, not retribution.
Since last Sunday, bloody clashes have erupted between Bedouin tribes and Druze groups, escalating into retaliatory violence. Israeli airstrikes, allegedly aimed at “protecting the Druze,” have hindered government efforts to contain the crisis.
In its bid to restore calm, the Syrian government announced three ceasefire agreements in Suwayda, the latest on Thursday evening, which included the withdrawal of government forces in response to Arab and U.S. mediation.
However, the ceasefire quickly unraveled after a group affiliated with Druze religious leader Hikmat al-Hijri forcibly displaced several Sunni Bedouin tribespeople on Friday, according to Anadolu Agency.
