ROCHELLE JUNIOR

Sweida – A public initiative launched in Sweida amidst severe violations and forced displacement has brought the city's demand for "self-determination" to the forefront. The petition, launched online on September 16, was supported by signatures in Karama Square, the city's center, and various other locations the following day. The campaign is being carried out under the supervision of local and international legal experts.

The collection of over ten thousand signatures on its first day clarified the people of Sweida's message: "We no longer trust the state; we want to determine our own future." "Violations have stripped the state of its legitimacy."

Sweida Bar Association lawyer Hanan Sharaf al-Din explained the legal and political background of the campaign: "Today, following attacks by the jihadist interim administration in Sweida, we launched a petition for the right to self-determination. These attacks claimed the lives of thousands of defenseless civilians, and more than 700 women, children, and the elderly were abducted. Furthermore, more than 200,000 citizens were displaced from the 38 villages that were burned and destroyed."

Hanan Sharaf al-Din explained that they were living under a siege that had seized every part of the city, and that from a legal perspective, the right to self-determination is a term in international law that grants people the right to freely determine the form of authority they desire and the method by which they achieve it.

"The right to self-determination is a common demand of the people."

Hanan Sharaf al-Din continued her speech with the following words: "The events in Suwayda have eliminated the state's legitimacy to represent all its citizens without discrimination. The state violated its citizens based on their religious and ethnic backgrounds and committed genocide. Here, the citizens have lost their loyalty to the state and therefore lost their legitimacy. The intervention of international law is necessary to ensure a dignified and secure life for them. The genocide in Suwayda cannot be compensated for by reconciliation or the opening of crossing points. The right to self-determination is a common demand of all the people of Suwayda."

"I signed for myself and every girl"

Gayda al-Sahnawi is one of the women who signed the petition. Gayda al-Sahnawi said, "I have come today to sign the petition for self-determination. Because after the massacres targeting us, our children, our women, and our youth, it is our right to determine our own destiny. We will not bow to this unjust authority that entered Sweida and perpetrated these massacres. It is our right to determine our destiny and decide what is right for us. We are subjected to all kinds of injustice: abduction, captivity, rape, and violence against women. I have come today for myself and every girl, and I ask every girl still at home to come and sign so that they can determine their own destiny, protect themselves, their safety, and the safety of their families, and continue their lives in peace."

‘Women united’

Regarding the role of women in the campaign, activist Reem Radwan said, “We are here today to fulfill Sweida’s destiny and demand independence. As women, we must support society, stand hand in hand, with one heart and one spirit, so that we can achieve a better place worthy of Sweida and one that protects the rights of young people.” Reem Radwan also called for the rights of the abducted women, saying, "We must know their fate and guarantee a better future for them. We want them to have a beautiful and distinguished future, just as the students of Sweida always expected."

"Everyone is eager for self-determination"

Retired teacher Iqbal Faraj praised the public participation, saying, "The participation in the campaign is wonderful. Everyone is eager for self-determination. We, the people of Sweida, have experienced death, massacre, displacement, torture, and humiliation. It is our natural right to take our own fate into our own hands and to write to the relevant authorities worldwide about the violations taking place in Sweida." Buthaina Junaid from the town of Walgha expressed her feelings: “Our homes were burned and we were displaced due to the HTS’s entry. We have the right to demand independence so that we can at least return to our homes and live in safety. There is a strong demand to sign for independence, and residents are delighted to have the opportunity to express their will.”

"We cannot live with a government that considers women's hair shameful." Engineer Hanin Khalifa from Karama Square said, "We have come to this point because of the massacre perpetrated against the people of Sweida by the Jolani government and its supporters. We demand international accountability and the establishment of an international investigative committee to investigate the massacres and violations."

Khalifa continued, "Our problem is no longer just a dispute with a central government; it has become an existential issue between a sectarian people facing extinction and other peoples within Syria. We cannot live with a society that considers women's hair shameful. Women are independent beings with rights and duties. We call on all countries to help us achieve our independence so that we can secure the rights and futures of our children."