Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri calls on International Criminal Court to launch independent investigation into Suwayda attacks

SUWAYDA, Syria — Hikmat al-Hajri, Sheikh of the Druze Community in Syria, has urged the international community to initiate an independent investigation into what he described as the “brutal crimes” suffered by the residents of Suwayda in southern Syria, asserting that the incidents amount to acts of genocide. 

In an official statement, al-Hijri called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to prosecute those responsible, emphasizing the need for impartial investigations into the attacks. He also called for the deployment of international monitoring missions to protect civilians from ongoing violence, an end to political and military support for armed factions, and pressure on the Syrian government to adhere to the ceasefire agreement. 

Meanwhile, in the city of Shahba in Suwayda countryside, dozens of residents staged a large-scale demonstration through the streets, holding photos and banners demanding the right to self-determination. Participants from various segments of society chanted slogans supporting local rights and the community’s role in deciding its political future. 

These protests come amid ongoing local discussions about civil and political rights in the region, with calls for increased dialogue between residents and authorities to address legitimate demands. 

Additionally, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that two convoys were en route to Suwayda along the main road from Daramsuq (Damascus): one carrying humanitarian aid, and the other transporting food and consumer goods to support local markets.