By Murhaf al-Sha’er
SUWAYDA, Syria (North Press) – Human rights activists in Suwayda Governorate, south Syria, demand an accountability for those involved in shooting at people protesting against the government to disperse them. That incident resulted in the killing of a protestor and the injury of another.
A group of lawyers in Suwayda gathered in front of the Public Prosecutor’s Office on Mar. 4 to file a lawsuit against the Security Apparatus of the government despite there were widespread doubts about the integrity of the Syrian judiciary.
Anti-government protests in Suwayda have persisted for over seven months, demanding a political change, overthrowing the Syrian “regime”, and implementing the UN Resolution 2254.
Suwayda witnessed tensions in late February following the shooting incident during protesters rejecting the reconciliation carried out by the government. Protesters claimed that this reconciliation aimed to quell the protests.
On Feb.28, protester Jawad al-Barouki, 52, a father of two under-age children, was killed in by the Syrian government security forces during an attempt to crackdown protesters in front of the Reconciliation Center in the 7th of April Hall.
Lamis al-Milhem, a lawyer, told North Press that they were peacefully demanding their civil rights in front of the Reconciliation Center in the 7th of April Hall. However, the Security Apparatus responded by shooting at them.
She emphasized the necessity of conducting a comprehensive investigation to uncover the crime and hold the perpetrators accountable.
Suleiman Kheiraddin, a resident of Suwayda, emphasized the need to uncover the criminals and determine responsibilities. He pointed out that the primary demand is conducting a comprehensive and fair investigation based on international standards of justice.
Meanwhile, Marwan Nafaa, a lawyer from Suwayda, affirmed that the protests will persist to hold those who killed the protestor accountable. He called for the accountability of officials who ordered the shooting at peaceful protesters.