ROCHELLE JUNIOR

As-Suwayda – Participants in a protest held in Al-Karama Square in the city of As-Suwayda, southern Syria, on Sunday, January 11, raised banners affirming their solidarity with the Kurdish community, stating that what they are experiencing today brings back similar memories.

The shared perspective highlights a profound realization: the plight of Syrians, irrespective of their backgrounds, is strikingly similar. This calls for a solidarity that crosses both geographic and ethnic lines.

“These communities are not minorities."

Raja Al-Shoufi, one of the participants in the protest, expressed her rejection of the genocide and forced displacement being inflicted upon the various communities in the region.

She said, "We stand here to condemn the genocide and demographic displacement afflicting our people, whether it was the Alawites initially, or the Druze, or the Kurds. We don't know what to say in the face of this horrific scene that keeps repeating itself, and the pools of blood we see. Why? And for what purpose?"

Raja al-Shoufi appealed to "everyone with a conscience or a shred of humanity to stand up and say no to this injustice, this genocide, this displacement. Words are insufficient to describe these people." She emphasized that the scale of the tragedy escalates with each targeted group: "Every scene is more horrific than the last. We saw what happened to the Alawites and were deeply affected and saddened. When it happened to us, it filled us with panic, fear, and terror because what we witnessed was unbelievable. And now it is happening to the Kurds in an even more horrific way."

She stressed that these groups are not minorities as they are portrayed, but rather people with their own culture, land, and knowledge. "It is unacceptable that we are being treated this way. Every scene we see now is filled with horror, and every group is subjected to massacres more horrific than the last, in more gruesome ways. What is the child's fault for being born into this religion or that belief?"

Targeting hospitals is a war crime.

Basma al-Qar'ouna said, "We organized this demonstration to condemn what is happening in Aleppo to our Kurdish brothers and sisters—the inhumane bombing and killing, the bombing of the hospital, and the killing of children. We saw how the body of the female fighter was thrown from above, and this cannot be tolerated." She added, "We hope the bloodshed will stop. We will stand with our Kurdish brothers and sisters as one to prevent this from happening again."

She also addressed the issue of targeting hospitals, asking, "Why are hospitals always targeted? A hospital is a humanitarian place for the wounded and injured, so why are they bombed? These are violations, a lack of conscience, and a lack of respect for humanity. It is sad what is happening, and I hope someone can stop it."

Where is the conscience?

Asala Aslan, spokesperson for the Syrian Women's Council in Suwaida, condemned the attacks, which she described as "terrorist," and the acts of violence targeting civilians in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods of Aleppo.

She said, "We are witnessing the terrorist attacks and acts of violence perpetrated against civilians in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh. What we are witnessing is completely contrary to the principles of humanity; these are immoral and inhumane acts, and manifestations of violence that defy comprehension."

She pointed out that the women of Suwaida issued an official statement condemning these violations: "We will not hesitate for a moment to speak the truth, and we will always stand in support of our Syrian women, the rightful owners of the land. Our conscience will remain alive to demand their rights, and we will never accept that our women be subjected to similar acts in any part of Syria. We will remain united."

Asala Aslan expressed her regret that "these terrorist gangs belong to Syrian soil," saying, "We regret that all morality has been erased from the hearts and minds of these people, even though they document their crimes themselves, while a misleading media campaign hides the truth from civilians."

She explained that it is impossible to live with the mentality of these jihadists. "We see girls being thrown from apartment buildings, and we see children who have been subjected to violence. What living conscience can coexist with these terrorist groups?"

She called on the human conscience and international committees to take urgent action. "We call on the human conscience to awaken and speak the truth so that we can regain some of our rights and live with dignity. What we want is peace