By Samer Yassin
HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – Since the fall of al-Assad regime and the formation of the transitional government, Syria has entered a new and highly sensitive phase, marked by rising tensions among various segments of society. Incidents of violence, including massacres, in the Syrian coast and Suwayda, frequent bombings, attacks on churches, and identity-based arrests have brought back to the surface the rhetoric of hatred and treason, threatening to push the country toward further fragmentation and division.
In Hasakah Governorate, northeastern Syria, which is known for its religious, ethnic, and national diversity, residents are watching recent violence in the coast and Suwayda with growing concern. Many fear that such charged tensions could spread to their area, potentially undermining the remaining bridges of coexistence that have withstood years of war.
Hate speech fuels division
Lina al-Zaher, a resident of Hasakah, said that post-Assad Syria has seen a rise in hate speech, with community groups accusing each other of treason.
Speaking to North Press, al-Zaher warned of the dangers of such rhetoric, calling it “a sensitive issue” that often begins with verbal disputes and could ultimately dismantle Syria’s diverse social fabric.
She stressed that despite past hardships, Syrians had stood together. But now, hate speech “could spark a civil war unless countered by widespread social awareness, particularly among youth.”
She added that those spreading division on social media are “nothing but ignorant internet trolls” and lack the courage to express their views in public.
Al-Zaher emphasized the need to stand against sectarian and divisive agendas: “The fall of the regime compels us to unite, preserve our cohesion, and work together to build a decentralized, democratic, and pluralistic Syria.”
Warnings against sectarian agendas
Civil activist Nasser Nasro, from Hasakah, warned of ongoing attempts to incite sectarian conflict among Syrians “to make us fight one another and fulfill the plan that began with the derailment of the Syrian revolution.”
Speaking to North Press, Nasro said that these efforts aim to fragment both Syria and its people.
“We’ve seen what happened on the Syrian coast, the bombings of Christian churches, the displacement of communities, and the recent events in Suwayda. Add to that the campaigns of treason—all of this contributes to dismantling Syrian society.”
He added that such developments seriously harm national unity and play into the hands of foreign agendas that do not represent the Syrian people.
He emphasized that Syrians “have coexisted for thousands of years without sectarian sensitivities,” and that unity is the only way to prevent civil strife.
Civil awareness as a defense
Civil activist Nadia al-Youssef, from Hasakah, described the current situation in Syria as a “war between components,” even though “these components have lived together for thousands of years without hatred.”
Speaking to North Press, she said the main reason behind the rise in hate speech is the exploitation of religion and sects by certain actors for political gain.
She argued that the Syrian transitional government has also contributed to inflaming this rhetoric, “especially following violations against communities such as the Alawites, Druze, Christians, and Kurds.”
Al-Youssef warned against listening to such divisive narratives, which she believes only prolong the crisis in Syria for the benefit of selfish interests.
She stressed the importance of every community knowing its rightful place in the country and living according to those rights—without falling prey to rumors that fuel hatred.
Residents of Hasakah believe that community awareness and dialogue should come before any discourse among components. As in other areas of northeastern Syria, “the components here coexist peacefully,” they said—adding that Syria urgently needs a unifying national project rooted in democracy and shared living.