Druze leader in Syria’s Suwayda calls for decentralized governance
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The leader of the Druze Muslim community in Suwayda Governorate in southern Syria, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri, called on Wednesday for decentralized governance and a comprehensive national conference to unite all Syrians.
Al-Hajri, leader of the Druze al-Muwahhidun, urged the Syrian people from all backgrounds to convene a comprehensive national conference, establish and elect working committees, and draft a new constitution for the Syrian state.
He added that this constitution should prioritize a decentralized administrative system that ensures the separation of powers, preserves governance institutions, and prevents the country’s fragmentation.
His statement underscored the importance of avoiding any agenda favoring specific groups or factions, stating, “We have emerged from decades of an oppressive security and party authority that brought devastation, bloodshed, displacement, and oppression. We categorically reject falling under the dominance of any factional, partisan, religious, or regional authority.”
The city of Suwayda has been a focal point of nearly daily organized protests over the past two years, with demonstrators demanding the ousting of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and a political transition for Syria.