Mass protests in Sweida demand independence and attack the regime

The province of Sweida in southern Syria witnessed massive protests today, Saturday, in Al-Karama Square in the city of Sweida and the city of Shahba, with hundreds of locals participating under the slogan "Right to Self-Determination".

The protesters raised slogans demanding "full independence from the Syrian regime" and chanted slogans comparing the ruling authority to the "ISIS" organization. The chants included: "We want independence" and "Sweida is free, free... Golan go away".

The events included speeches from several activists who called for opening the crossings and dismissing the governor of Sweida, Mustafa Bakour, describing him as a "traitor".

During the protests, flags of the Druze community were raised alongside Israeli flags, in a message that the organizers of the movement said expressed rejection of "subordination to the authority of the Syrian state".

In contrast, the governor of Sweida, Mustafa Bakour, issued an official statement on Friday emphasizing the need for "reconciliation and uniting hearts among the tribes and Druze," warning of the dangers of internal division on the unity of the national fabric.