Translation by Yusra Ahmed
(Zaman Al Wasl)- In spite of the fact that Sweida city, the Druze majority's stronghold south Syria, has not deeply engaged in the revolution yet, many changes took place in the city and many taboos were broken especially the freedom to put most old and traditional practices under discussion, one of them the issue of emirate and hereditary rule.
The current Prince Shibli Zaid al-Atrash died and his brother Jihad inherited the position, as “the al-Atrash” control the “Emirate of Jabal al-Arab” since 1868 through what so-called" “Dar Ara”.
As the country and the city are going though deep and complex crisis, inaugurating Prince Jihad to inherit the position has worsened the situation and caused a storm of controversy among "Druze" in Sweida about may points including the feasibility in continuing this “tradition" and the conditions that should be available in the person to be a "prince " besides the problem of " inheritance "that seem so far the main way to determine qualified people for different position, either religious or secular.
The funeral of Shibli and ceremony of Jihad’s inauguration as a prince took place in “Ara” village, remarkable attendance of regime’s representatives was noted, raising question mark about their absence from the funeral of Sheikh al-Baloos who was killed in the beginning of September.
Many expressed their resentment for inaugurating Jihad al-Atrash as "prince" while other felt that issue has been out-dated as the position is nothing more than Honorary position amid the regime’s attempts to undermine respected figures and traditions in order to stay the only controller. It is well known that Wafiq Naser, the Head of Military Intelligence in Sweida is the actual ruler of the city, where as for example, any of his bodyguard can order the “Prince” or does whatever he likes without taking his opinion in account.
Many of Sweida people called to abandon the tradition of the emirate, as compared to previous “Emirs” and their achievements and strong position and wisdom, the recent Princes are not respected enough for the position, like the “Jihad" the latest Prince, who worked on smuggling diesel taking chance of fuel crisis.
Old people in Sweida remember and quote the words of "Sultan Pasha al-Atrash," when he was asked about the person who will be entrusted to where his cloak, he replied: "Every one sews a cloak to his himself”, in a clear sign of rejecting the principle of inheritance, because it might bring to the position people not respected and up enough to be Princes.
(Zaman Al Wasl)- In spite of the fact that Sweida city, the Druze majority's stronghold south Syria, has not deeply engaged in the revolution yet, many changes took place in the city and many taboos were broken especially the freedom to put most old and traditional practices under discussion, one of them the issue of emirate and hereditary rule.
The current Prince Shibli Zaid al-Atrash died and his brother Jihad inherited the position, as “the al-Atrash” control the “Emirate of Jabal al-Arab” since 1868 through what so-called" “Dar Ara”.
As the country and the city are going though deep and complex crisis, inaugurating Prince Jihad to inherit the position has worsened the situation and caused a storm of controversy among "Druze" in Sweida about may points including the feasibility in continuing this “tradition" and the conditions that should be available in the person to be a "prince " besides the problem of " inheritance "that seem so far the main way to determine qualified people for different position, either religious or secular.
The funeral of Shibli and ceremony of Jihad’s inauguration as a prince took place in “Ara” village, remarkable attendance of regime’s representatives was noted, raising question mark about their absence from the funeral of Sheikh al-Baloos who was killed in the beginning of September.
Many expressed their resentment for inaugurating Jihad al-Atrash as "prince" while other felt that issue has been out-dated as the position is nothing more than Honorary position amid the regime’s attempts to undermine respected figures and traditions in order to stay the only controller. It is well known that Wafiq Naser, the Head of Military Intelligence in Sweida is the actual ruler of the city, where as for example, any of his bodyguard can order the “Prince” or does whatever he likes without taking his opinion in account.
Many of Sweida people called to abandon the tradition of the emirate, as compared to previous “Emirs” and their achievements and strong position and wisdom, the recent Princes are not respected enough for the position, like the “Jihad" the latest Prince, who worked on smuggling diesel taking chance of fuel crisis.
Old people in Sweida remember and quote the words of "Sultan Pasha al-Atrash," when he was asked about the person who will be entrusted to where his cloak, he replied: "Every one sews a cloak to his himself”, in a clear sign of rejecting the principle of inheritance, because it might bring to the position people not respected and up enough to be Princes.
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