Syrian Security Forces Detain Suwayda Activists En Route to Raqqa for Civic Event
By Kardo Roj
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Syrian General Security forces detained a group of civil society activists from Suwayda on Saturday while they were traveling to Raqqa to attend a community-focused event, according to local sources and civil monitoring networks.
The detentions occurred at a security checkpoint in Homs, central Syria, at approximately 1 p.m. The activists, reportedly numbering around 25, were part of a civil delegation heading to an event in Raqqa aimed at promoting dialogue and cooperation among diverse Syrian communities.
The report was first published by “Suwayda 24,” a local media outlet covering developments in southern Syria. The network cited sources close to the detained individuals, indicating that the group included activists from Suwayda and other governorates.
“The entire delegation was stopped by General Security personnel at a checkpoint and transported to a security facility in Homs,” said one source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation.
As of Saturday evening, Syrian authorities had not issued an official statement explaining the rationale behind the arrests. The absence of charges or formal accusations has raised alarm among civil society organizations and human rights observers, particularly amid increasing pressure on non-governmental civic activity throughout the country.
A second source told Suwayda 24 that the incident was unlikely to be politically motivated and claimed that the situation is “being resolved,” although no further details were provided.
The incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of civil initiatives perceived to operate independently of state institutions, especially in regions where decentralized governance models, such as that of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), continue to evolve.
Raqqa, where the delegation was headed, has become an important hub for civil society activity in recent years under the administration of AANES. The region, administered through participatory local councils and secured by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), has hosted multiple forums aimed at reconciliation, gender rights, transitional justice, and intercommunal dialogue.
The increasing involvement of activists from other Syrian regions in Raqqa’s civil initiatives reflects broader efforts to build bridges across Syria’s fractured society, despite ongoing political uncertainty and intermittent security threats.
While the AANES has facilitated numerous civic events with the participation of NGOs and community leaders, attempts by groups from government-held areas to engage in such spaces are often complicated by surveillance, intimidation, or travel restrictions.
Suwayda, a majority Druze region in southern Syria, has experienced a distinct civil movement since 2020. Residents have periodically organized protests demanding political reforms, economic justice, and greater local autonomy. Although these demonstrations have largely remained peaceful, they have drawn increasing attention from security agencies wary of independent civic mobilization.
The latest detentions underscore the ongoing challenges faced by civil society actors attempting to operate across Syria’s politically divided regions. Analysts suggest that such actions risk deepening mistrust between central authorities and emerging local governance models such as AANES.
The response from rights organizations and civil society networks is likely to intensify in the coming days, as calls for the release of the detained activists mount.
As the situation develops, the event in Raqqa—intended to promote dialogue and reconciliation—serves as a reminder of both the potential and limitations of civic engagement in Syria’s complex landscape. Whether these initiatives can continue to bridge divides without obstruction remains a pressing question for the country’s future.