Statement on the Violations Against the People of As-Suwayda Governorate by the De Facto Authorities in Damascus
An Urgent Appeal from 40 Human Rights Networks and Organizations to:
All bodies of the United Nations
The European Union
The League of Arab States
All freedom-loving people and human rights organizations around the world
A Humanitarian Greeting Filled with Pain and Hope,
We, the undersigned human rights organizations, send this urgent appeal amidst the alarming escalation of violence and armed conflict in southern Syria and other areas. The recent events began as clashes between a small minority group outside the consensus in As-Suwayda Governorate and some Bedouin tribes. As innocent civilians began to fall victim to the violence, most of the youth in As-Suwayda rose to defend their towns and villages against continued attacks by Bedouin tribes. These tribes have reportedly been backed by the military operations command and affiliated security services over the past few hours.
This violence has resulted in a tragic toll: over 204 documented civilian deaths and dozens reported missing — atrocities that no human conscience can remain silent about.
On behalf of all those who believe in human rights and humanity, we strongly condemn the brutal massacres committed against unarmed civilians and denounce the targeting of non-combatants — particularly women and children — and the terrorizing of communities through indiscriminate gunfire in residential areas. These acts are flagrant violations of all international and humanitarian norms and laws, and they have taken place in several towns and villages in As-Suwayda.
The de facto authorities in Damascus, through their army and affiliated security forces, bear full responsibility for these events. They have employed rogue elements from the Bedouin communities in the Lajat area bordering As-Suwayda and foreign-affiliated extremist groups under their control to carry out unlawful killings, theft, assaults, and systematic terror campaigns against civilians in As-Suwayda. These actions amount to crimes against humanity.
With some foreign countries involved in Syrian affairs, and the ongoing international and Arab silence in the face of systematic and widespread violations against the Syrian people, we issue the following demands:
1. The international community and human rights organizations must pressure all parties to the conflict to immediately halt all ongoing hostilities unconditionally, in order to preserve civilian lives and protect social peace.
2. The withdrawal of all military forces affiliated with the de facto authorities from all towns and villages in As-Suwayda, and the expulsion of all extremist foreign elements under their command.
3. The deployment of an independent international fact-finding mission to investigate the ongoing violations, document all crimes against humanity, and submit a comprehensive and transparent report to the UN Security Council.
4. Holding all those responsible for the massacres and violations accountable before international justice, ensuring they face trial for their crimes against the Syrian people.
5. International and humanitarian organizations must take urgent action to provide immediate humanitarian and medical aid to all affected civilians, lift the siege, and open safe corridors for the evacuation of the wounded and deceased, while ensuring psychological and health protection, especially for children, women, and the elderly.
6. The immediate cessation of all sectarian and violent incitement, including on social media and media platforms, and the prosecution of all perpetrators of crimes against civilians before a fair judiciary, whether inside or outside Syria.
7. We call on international human rights organizations to mobilize their efforts for a global advocacy campaign via social media to bring this issue to the attention of global public opinion.
8. An immediate end to all forms of foreign intervention and the cessation of support to warring factions, and a halt to incitement to violence.
9. As-Suwayda Governorate must be declared a disaster zone, as its people are in dire need of everything. Many have gone without electricity, water, and shelter for nearly a week.
10. We urge the opening of safe humanitarian corridors from Jordan to As-Suwayda, to deliver water, food, medicine, fuel, and essential supplies, especially in light of the collapse of health and food systems and an almost complete cutoff of communications and internet.
The suffering of the Syrian people under the de facto authorities today is a stain on the conscience of humanity. The international community must act urgently and not shirk its responsibility to save innocent lives. The voices of the victims cry out for justice, and the souls of the innocent children lost in this conflict plead with you to stand with truth, justice, and dignity.
Signatories:
1. International Movement for Human Rights and Peoples (comprising 21 human rights organizations globally)
2. Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Jordan
3. Global Coalition for Solidarity and Defense of Palestinian Prisoners
4. Coalition of Kurdish Civil Society Forces in Syria
5. Palestinian Women’s Committees Union
6. Jordanian Association for Human Rights
7. Mediterranean Civil Solidarity Association – Tunisia
8. Women’s Visions Association / Jordan
9. Women Supporting Women Network / Jordan
10. Shumou' for Equality Association
11. Mothers’ School Association / Palestine
12. Iraqi Human Rights Monitoring Association
13. Jordanian Women’s Solidarity Institute
14. Protection of Human Rights Defenders in the Arab World (Paris)
15. Tunisian League for Human Rights
16. Tunisian League for Human Rights (listed twice in original)
17. Jordanian Network for Human Rights and Peoples
18. Moroccan Democratic Network for Solidarity with Peoples
19. Syrian Medical Committee (Paris)
20. Arab Commission for Human Rights
21. Vigilance Committee for Democracy in Tunisia
22. Syrian Human Rights Committee
23. Arab World Democracy and Elections Observatory
24. French Observatory for Human Rights (Paris)
25. SHAMS Center for Human Rights and Democracy / Palestine
26. Khiam Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Torture / Lebanon
27. Tunis Center for Press Freedom
28. Damascus Center for Theoretical Studies and Civil Rights
29. Amman Center for Human Rights Studies
30. Scandinavian Institute for Human Rights / Haitham Manna Foundation (Geneva)
31. Gulf Institute for Democracy and Human Rights
32. International Institute for Peace, Justice and Human Rights (Geneva)
33. Houran Forum for Citizenship (Syria)
34. Bahrain Forum for Human Rights
35. Organization for the Defense of the Rights of Victims of Violence (Geneva)
36. Arab Organization for Human Rights in Libya
37. Insan Organization for Rights and Freedoms / Yemen
38. House of Freedom Organization for the Defense of Human Rights and the Fight Against Slavery / Mauritania
39. MAF – Human Rights Organization in Syria
40. International Commission to Support Palestinian People's Rights – HASHD
