Syriac Union Party blames Syrian government for Suwayda violence, calls for decentralized, democratic future

BETH ZALIN, North and East Syria — The Syriac Union Party in Syria (SUP Syria) issued a sharply worded statement condemning the Syrian government’s handling of the escalating violence in Suwayda Governorate, warning that the situation threatens the very foundations of Syria’s civil peace and unity. The statement comes in the wake of several days of deadly clashes that have rocked the predominantly Druze region in southern Syria, resulting in what the party described as “massacres against civilians.” 

Describing the events in Suwayda as “painful and bloody,” the SUP Syria attributed the violence to a dangerous mix of local tensions, military intervention, and the spread of extremist ideology and hate speech. According to the statement, the unrest is not only jeopardizing the stability of Suwayda, but is also beginning to ripple into other parts of the country, threatening Syria’s broader social cohesion. 

In a direct challenge to the Syrian government, the party accused authorities of deliberately escalating the crisis by opting for a military and security-based response instead of engaging in meaningful dialogue with the region’s local communities. “The government failed to contain the crisis from the outset in an appropriate manner,” the statement read, adding that it “viewed the situation as an opportunity to impose control over a region with unique sensitivities and characteristics.” 

The Syriac Union Party, which has long advocated for a pluralistic and decentralized state structure, criticized what it sees as the regime’s continued pursuit of a rigidly centralized system. Such an approach, the party argued, reflects a deeper failure to manage Syria’s diverse ethnic and religious makeup and to respond to citizens’ longstanding demands for freedom and dignity. “We reject this model, as it reflects a failure in managing diversity and ignores the legitimate demands of Syrians for freedom and dignity and the great sacrifices they made to overthrow the dictatorial Assad regime,” read the statement. 

The statement also called on all actors involved in the Suwayda crisis to step back from violence and prioritize dialogue. “It is incumbent upon the Syrian government to find sustainable solutions to all problems before the country slides into the abyss,” it warned. 

Among the specific measures the SUP Syria urged were the criminalization of hate speech, the implementation of transitional justice, and the accountability of those responsible for recent violence. These steps, the party said, are essential to restoring trust among Syria’s many communities and ensuring that none are sidelined or erased in the country’s future. 

The party emphasized that Syria’s future depends on the inclusion and empowerment of all its components, particularly those historically marginalized. “These components must be relied upon to stand side by side in building a democratic, pluralistic, and decentralized Syria,” the statement concluded. 

Ending on a solemn note, the Syriac Union Party paid tribute to those killed in the recent violence: “Glory and eternal peace to the righteous martyrs.”