Protests in Southern Syria Call for 'Civil Disobedience'

Arab World

December 22nd, 9:43am

Daraa – Riad al-Zain

Protests erupt in the city of As-Suwayda, Syria (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Protesters in As-Suwayda governorate, southern Syria, blocked a pivotal street in the provincial capital at the Al-Mashnaqa roundabout, and set tires ablaze as they carried out a demonstration against worsening living conditions. They raised slogans calling for the trial of the corrupt and urged civil disobedience to fight deteriorating conditions across Syria. The group of protesters delivered a statement in which they said they will use civil disobedience in As-Suwayda until their legitimate demands are achieved. Their demands included the removal of security services that protect drug dealers in the governorate, the exit of Iranian militias and Hezbollah from As-Suwayda, and the improvement of living and economic conditions in the region. In their statement, they accused the Syrian authorities of carrying out a siege on As-Suwayda. Journalist Suleiman Fakhr, director of the local Al-Rased network in As-Suwayda, revealed that the local community had conflicting opinions regarding the demands of protesters. According to Fakhr, the number of protesters was not large. Demonstrators did not find popular support as their demands went beyond service matters to talk about expelling security services and accusing the regime of being behind the spread of drugs in the province, Fakhr explained to Asharq Al-Awsat. These protesters have intentions to escalate and are different from the protesters who carried out a silent protest earlier this week. On Monday, a group of demonstrators raised political, social, and economic slogans and announced their decision to hold a silent sit-in every Monday. Fakhr added that the protests came in the context of a major economic crisis that the Syrian country is experiencing. The crisis has led to the deterioration of living conditions in As-Suwayda and the whole of Syria. Features of the crisis include fuel shortages, complete paralysis of services in As-Suwayda, and a significant decline in the value of wages and salaries. As-Suwayda governorate has been embroiled in continuous protests calling for improvement in economic, living, and political conditions. Demonstrators often blame the Syrian government for the deterioration of the situation in Syria. Meanwhile, dozens of protesters gathered in the main square in the center of Jassem city in the northern countryside of Daraa governorate, demanding the release of the detainees. Demonstrators urged the people to endorse demands for releasing the detainees in Daraa, saying that the file has not been dealt with seriously even after the settlement agreement and the intervention of the Russian side.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4057356/protests-southern-syria-call-civil-disobedience