One year after the Suwayda massacres, global vigils demand justice, accountability, and support for displaced Druze and Christian victims.
Newsroom (16/07/2026 Gaudium Press ) One year after violence erupted in Syria’s southern Suwayda countryside, members of the Druze community say the scars of the conflict remain deeply felt, with demands for justice and accountability continuing to go unanswered.
The unrest began with mutual abductions involving armed Druze factions and Bedouin tribal groups aligned with the Syrian government. What initially started as localized tensions in the Al-Muqawas neighborhood east of Suwayda rapidly escalated into widespread clashes that engulfed parts of the province.
The violence soon descended into massacres that claimed the lives of hundreds of Druze and Christian civilians. Entire communities were shaken as fighting spread, triggering large-scale displacement and widespread looting of both public and private property.
Although the killings sparked condemnation at both the domestic and international levels, many survivors and relatives of the victims maintain that those responsible have not been held accountable. One year later, the wounds left by the violence remain open, particularly among Druze families still seeking justice and answers.
To mark the anniversary of the massacres and sustain pressure on Syrian authorities to address the killings of Druze and Christian victims, solidarity vigils were organized in several cities around the world, including gatherings outside parliamentary institutions. Participants carried photographs of victims and banners calling for justice, accountability, and support for efforts to facilitate the return of displaced residents to their villages.
Among the most prominent events was a vigil held in Brussels outside the European Parliament. The gathering was organized by the European Syriac Union (ESU) under the banner “In Defense of Memory, Justice, and the Protection of the Druze Community in Suwayda.”
The event brought together dozens of Syriac (Aramean-Assyrian-Chaldean), Belgian, and international activists. Former ESU Co-Chair Fehmi Vergili and Syriac human rights activist Sarah Aphram represented the organization during the demonstration.
In a statement issued during the vigil, the ESU said the event aimed to support transitional justice in Syria and advocate for a future founded on accountability, national reconciliation, and equal rights for all communities.
The organization emphasized that lasting peace cannot be achieved without confronting the truth of past atrocities and recognizing the suffering of all victims. It reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that crimes are acknowledged, victims’ voices are heard, and Syria moves toward what it described as a more just and inclusive future that respects the country’s historical and cultural diversity.
Aphram delivered the ESU statement during the gathering, paying tribute to those who lost their lives in the violence.
“On the first anniversary of the violence committed against the Druze people, we honor the memory of the innocent lives lost and express our deep solidarity with their families and the entire Druze community,” she said.
Drawing on the historical experience of the Syriac people, Aphram highlighted parallels between the suffering endured by Syriacs and Druze communities. Referencing the legacy of the 1915 Sayfo Genocide, she warned that unacknowledged suffering and crimes left unpunished risk being repeated.
She argued that persecution and identity-based violence remain ongoing realities and should not be viewed solely through the lens of history. According to Aphram, the Druze community’s struggle for justice mirrors the long-standing experiences of other minorities who have faced displacement, persecution, and attempts at erasure from their ancestral lands.
Addressing Syria’s broader political challenges, Aphram said the country’s current crisis cannot be understood without recognizing the suffering experienced by its people throughout modern history. While describing Syria’s transitional period as complex, she stressed that the country’s future must be built on accountability, dialogue, and national reconciliation rather than deepening divisions.
She also underscored the importance of international and regional support in helping Syria navigate its transition, protect fundamental rights, and rebuild institutions that serve all citizens equally.
Calling for stronger international engagement, Aphram urged policymakers and global actors to assist efforts aimed at restoring stability, preserving Syria’s unity, protecting its diverse communities, and establishing the foundations for lasting peace.
Her remarks also drew attention to violence affecting other religious groups in Syria. She noted that Alawite communities had faced attacks, Christian communities had been targeted, and that an attack on the Mar Elias Church in Damascus the previous year killed numerous worshippers and forced many families to flee. According to Aphram, the later targeting of the Druze community reflected a similar pattern of violence directed at people because of their identity and beliefs.
Aphram argued that responsibility extends not only to those who commit crimes but also to those who remain silent in the face of them.
“We are not here merely to mourn,” she said. “We are here to ask Europe and the international community: How many more peoples must suffer? How many more innocent people must die? How many more children must be orphaned? How many more times will we hear the words, ‘We are concerned’?”
She added that expressions of concern alone are no longer sufficient, insisting that civilians must be protected, crimes must be investigated independently, and perpetrators must be brought to justice.
Concluding her address, Aphram expressed hope that solidarity among Syria’s diverse communities would overcome fear, division, and hatred.
“We believe that solidarity among our peoples is stronger than fear, stronger than hatred, and stronger than all the forces that seek to divide us,” she said.
As commemorations marked the first anniversary of the Suwayda massacres, the message from activists and survivors remained clear: remembrance must be accompanied by accountability. For many in the Druze community and beyond, justice remains unresolved, and the pursuit of truth continues to define the path toward reconciliation and lasting peace in Syria.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from SyriacPress.com
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