ROCHELLE JUNIOR

Sweida- Since the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, people across the country have raised their voices against the policies and attacks of the interim government led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The people in the Druze majority city of Sweida have also raised their voices, saying that a just and stable solution is needed for the future of Syria.

Lujain Hamza, a physician and writer in Sweida, thinks that the system of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria is a successful local system for protecting diversity and guaranteeing rights in Syria.

“Recently, many people have raised their voices in Sweida, demanding the system implemented in North and East Syria be implemented across Syria,” Lujain Hamza told NuJINHA. “They demand this because of not only the political deadlock in the country but also the deteriorating conditions and a deepening sense of exclusion and marginalization in the country. Some feel their very existence is at risk.”

‘The centralized system is a heavy burden’

Lujain Hamza believes that the centralized system implemented in Syria for decades is one of the reasons for crises in the country. “In a centralized system, power is in the hands of a very small group, often in the capital. All decisions are made in the capital and imposed on other regions without taking notice of local diversities or the needs of different regions. This causes not only the development gap but also a sense of abandonment.

“This system prevents cities from making decisions, killing the spirit of initiative and local creativity and turning local authorities into a puppet. In this system, local authorities cannot produce solutions for the problems faced by the people in their cities. The centralized system is a heavy burden on all people in Syria.”

‘Federalism allows all identities to have a free life’

Lujain Hamza also believes that a federal system can be a rational and effective solution for Syria. “There are many countries in the world, like Belgium, the United States or the UAE, that have implemented federal systems. By implementing this system, they have achieved political stability, a fair distribution of power and wealth. Federalism is a system of government in which the power is divided between a central authority and various constituent units of the country so that each city has a local administration that manages its own affairs. It does not diminish the country’s unity, but rather strengthens it. This system allows all ethnic and religious identities in the country to enjoy their rights and have a free life. In this system, no one imposes a lifestyle on another. Everyone shares a common political identity, but they practice their own language, religion, and culture.”

System of Rojava

Lujain Hamza praised the system implemented by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. “Despite all the challenges, the system implemented by the Autonomous Administration is a successful system. This system is a successful system because it empowers women and respects all religious and ethnic identities. The system in Rojava is based on a committee system. Each committee has co-chairs, one women and one man. In North and East Syria, women participate in all facets of life, including politics, decision-making positions, military and economy. This system has enabled Kurds to express their identity, speak their language, and access their natural resources, after having been deprived of them for decades. Everyone visiting this region can see the significant changes in the region.”

Is this system suitable for Sweida?

Lujain Hamza thinks that the system implemented in North and East Syria is suitable for Sweida despite the differences between Sweida and North and East Syria. “Despite the differences, we also have common points. For instance, we also face marginalization, threats, attempts aiming to destroy our identity. Although we have different languages, we have similar lifestyles, culture and society.”

‘Federalism is a must to protect diversity in Syria’

Lujain Hamza also talked about the threat faced by them in Sweida. “We face the threat of soft ethnic cleansing. The threat is no longer political, but existential. We are oppressed because of our religion and ethnic identity.  We are not allowed to express our identity.

Speaking about the previous regime's repression of the Kurdish community in Syria, Lujain Hamza said, “Kurdish citizens were prevented from having an Arabic-Kurdish dictionary or from expressing their identity. In Sweida, members of the ethnic groups were not allowed to have positions in the military or politics. Today, extremist religious groups practice systematic oppression. We face a direct threat to our existence, our lives, and our culture. Federalism is a must to protect diversity in Syria.”

Lujain Hamza asked, “How can the centralized government know our needs?” and said, “If the government in the capital decides to build mosques in a city where non-Muslim people live, this decision will be absurd. We need to build schools and theaters and dig wells. Every region must have the right to determine its own decisions, manage its resources, and form its own representatives. We want a system that does not exclude us, but rather includes us, a system that guarantees a life with dignity for all ethnic and religious identities and protects their rights.”