Syria
A Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) delegation in the southern Suwayda province meeting with Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat Salman al-Hijri on January 28, 2025. Photo: SDC
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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A delegation from the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) on Tuesday visited Syria’s southern Druze-majority Suwayda province and met with Sheikh Hikmat Salman al-Hijri, the Druze spiritual leader, to discuss the country's political future.
"Future political solutions for Syria were discussed. The meeting addressed the basic issues for overcoming the current crisis and building a civil and democratic state that enhances civil peace and guarantees the rights of all citizens," the SDC said in a statement.
The SDC is the political wing of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) - the de facto army of northeast Syria (Rojava).
Both the Kurds in northern Syria and the Druze in the south have expressed concerns about the new Islamist-led Syrian administration’s resolve to reject federalism and decentralization.
Earlier this month, Hijri affirmed that the Druze reject Islamic rule in Syria and prefer a secular, democratic state with the powers separated among different regions.
In early January, Druze militias forced a military convoy of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) fighters to return to Damascus and denied it access to Suwayda.
Many Syrians and foreign powers are worried that HTS-led authority may impose strict Islamic rule and threaten minority groups such as Kurds, Druze, Christians, and Alawites.
"Future political solutions for Syria were discussed. The meeting addressed the basic issues for overcoming the current crisis and building a civil and democratic state that enhances civil peace and guarantees the rights of all citizens," the SDC said in a statement.
The SDC is the political wing of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) - the de facto army of northeast Syria (Rojava).
Both the Kurds in northern Syria and the Druze in the south have expressed concerns about the new Islamist-led Syrian administration’s resolve to reject federalism and decentralization.
Earlier this month, Hijri affirmed that the Druze reject Islamic rule in Syria and prefer a secular, democratic state with the powers separated among different regions.
In early January, Druze militias forced a military convoy of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) fighters to return to Damascus and denied it access to Suwayda.
Many Syrians and foreign powers are worried that HTS-led authority may impose strict Islamic rule and threaten minority groups such as Kurds, Druze, Christians, and Alawites.
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