Sweida city, which was the cradle of the Syrian revolution against the French mandate led by Sultan al Atrash between1925–1927, still fights despotism and refuses to be part of regime’s current plan to broaden its bower base depending on minorities’ support.
In a latest development, some of the city religious men cut off the main road of the city after security forces arrested one of the Sheikhs because he prevented regime’s forces and Shabihha from completing Bashar al-Assad’s re-election ceremonies in the city.
Shiekh Lorans Salam, was arrested by military forces for few hours before being released, therefore leading Druze sheikhs gathered in one of the religious headquarters, and expressed their refusal of the degradation of the mountain dignity by Wafeeq Nasser , head of the military security branch in the Sweida.
“Turning Sweida to another Daraa “and "bombarding it with heavy weapons" are some of shabihha’s threats to the city, yet Sweida shiekhs’ challenged regime forces that they will make Sweida a revolution burning city as Daraa , and demanded the dismissal of Wafeeq Nasser and went so far as to threat to kill him because of his infamous resemblance of Atef Najeeb who insulted their brothers in Daraa.
And according to Sweida coordination, and information confirmed by Zaman Al Wasl sources, following Salam’s arrest, large number of clergy men and various segments of society gathered today in Salam’s house, and then headed in a huge parade to Al Sahwa Village to the house of (Sheikh al-Akel Henawi) shouting “we sacrifice our soul for our country” and “we want to bring down Wafeeq Nasser”.
In addition to more than thirty of the so-called national defense soldiers have defected with their weapons and joined the sheikhs.
Out of fear of the repercussions, military security forces evacuated its entire headquarters and checkpoints, and were forced to release Sheikh Salam to avoid security breakdown in the city.
The background of these fast-moving events is that the regime exploited Druze’s traditional dress in the propaganda of Bashar Al Assad, and in the details which circulated among activists, the regime was trying to recruit Druze religious uniforms in the election campaign, and a retarded woman was used and paid by Shabihha to do as she was told.
This woman in a traditional Sweida’s dress, was holding Bashar Al Assad’s picture while dancing in Sultan Al Atrash square in one of the re-election tents, and that provoked people of the city , so they attacked security forces and shabihha and smashed Bashar al Assad’s picture as well as the audio devices that were broadcasting songs glorifying the tyranny.
One of the activists commented on this incident, saying that it comes within a serious of humiliating practices exercised by the regime in all Syrian governorates including Sweida, but there is always a red line that should not be crossed especially in a city that highly values its honor and traditions, and carried by enthusiasm and jealousy on religion.
“If the regime has been successful in recruiting minority fears to his advantage, it will not succeed in debasing the dignity of Sweida’s people”.
“ Ya Gherrat Al Deen” is the awaited password by people of Sweida to rise up against the tyranny , which Druz sheikhs have tried to avoid many times in order to keep the city away from the grinding war, he concluded. Reporting by Zeina al-chofi; Translation by Dani Murad
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