The Druze community once played a major role in shaping Syria’s modern history, might be on the verge of switching sides to revive its role as one of the leading revolutionary cities against despotism.
Until recently, many people believed that there is no revolution in Sweida, but the fast-moving events during the last two days have changed this conviction, and others went to consider that “the “Druze gift" will be crucial in the Syrian Revolution.
The city has witnessed unexpected coup against the regime, its forces and shabihha, and even on Druz sheikh al-aqls el-Mowahideen , whom are known for their submissiveness to the regime .
The movement reminded them of the difference between today’s religious authority position and its stance at the time of the French mandate, when the French ordered their soldiers to shed Sultan Basha al Atrash’s blood whose revolt took some time to be one of the greatest Syrian revolutions.
Perhaps the most important event that "broke the camel's back," is regime’s exploitation of Druz’s traditional dress in the media, in an incident where a lady danced while wearing the dress and holding Bashar Al Assad’s picture, and consequently forcing people of the city and religious men to face security forces and Shabihha for the first time since three years.
As a result of this incident, Sheikh Lawrence Salam and his brother were arrested, and some pro-regime internet pages published lies accusing Salam of being the most important terrorists in the governorate.
The fabricated accusations were removed from these pages after sheikhs’s movement and their threat to the regime of either to release and dismiss Wafeek Nasser head of the military branch, or they will turn Sweida to a new Daraa and kill Nasser on Jabel Al Arab mountain.
Soon, the regime yielded to their demands and released sheikh Salam but demanded from sheikh al-aqls to issue a statement condemning the move of Al a jaweed Al Osalaa, and stressed on the importance of adhering to the prohibition of shooting in weddings and funerals under religious penalty, and not carrying weapons while wearing religious outfit.
The regime also stressed on the importance of marinating safety and security in cooperation with specialized authorities to uncover the truth, and considered the citizen’s duty is to cooperate with these authorities and not interfere or hinder their duty.
And al-aqls sheikhdom refused to provide a religious cover for anyone who exploits the religious outfit or commits any violations that affect the security of people or the country.
This statement came after Essam Nasser al deen’s visit to the city, “the Regime’s Durzi man” and the spearhead of many battles to suppress the revolution.
According to sources, Essam came to defuse and correct the matter before turning to a critical crisis and consequently losing Sweida in the elections which is considered to be a pro-regime city.
Weam Wahab, the Lebanese Durzi who tried since the beginning of the revolution to recruit Druze’s sons and armed them to stand beside the regime, was also sent to the city to absorb people anger.
The notorious man who is accused of killing the city’s young people under torture, Wafeeq Nasser, was dismissed by the regime and Ali Taha has been appointed instead of him as the new head of military branch.
On the other hand, (Al Ajaweed Al Osalaa) and sweida’s people refused this degradation and issued a statement dismissed in it the pro-regiem sheikh al-aqls “ Hammoud Henwai, Yusef Jarbou, and Hikmat Al Hajeri “, appointed Abu Fahed Waheed Balous as the sole president of Druze spiritual committee , declined to hand over their civil weapons due to its importance in defending their land and honor, and refused Weam Wahab’ visit to Sweida.
Did the revolution spark in Sweida? This urging question is raised after the decisive position which Al Ajaweed took against the regime, and some activists are hopeful of the mountain’s uprising, but for others who prefer anonymity, they still consider minorities’ fear a hindrance in their participation in the revolution, because despite the escalating events, they haven’t broke the fear barrier.
As in the popular proverb” if I did not die , I will not see who died “, this silent calm city which preferred neutrality for three years, had feared both the regime and the unknown especially after things got worse these days when the revolution got off the track and lost its direction .
“The regime has long considered itself to be the minorities’ savior and protector, while it has always hidden behind them and used them in its advantage,” local activist said.
“It is well known that Sweida’s votes can change the equation upside down in the elections, and the most obvious example of that, is in its uprising in 2000, which if it had the right circumstances it would had turned into a revolution, but the regime then threatened to make it another Hama, saying Sweida is not more valuable than Hama “as Ali Mamlouk said at the time, “he added.
A third opinion, considers Sweida as the only semi secure city in Syria inhabited by thousands of displaced refugees from all Syrian cities, and its destruction would be catastrophic to the revolution, since this safe heaven still can heal the wounds of the war that lasted three years with no near end to military confrontations.
But there are also those who consider Sweida’s silence, an abuse of the mountain’s dignity and a stain that cannot be tolerated despite its long submissiveness to the regime, and the first revolutionary act will be against the religious authority of the city which granted its obedience and loyalty to the regime to avoid its wrath, activists say.
Reporting by Zeina Al Chofi; Translation by Dani Murad
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