LONDON — Dozens of Druze and their supporters held a protest here Aug. 30 to call attention to the situation they face in southern Syria, with murderous attacks against them, including by government forces.
In English and Arabic, protesters called for “Sweida’s right to self-determination,” “Save the Druze” and “Save the Christians.”
Many participants held photos of people who had been killed. They laid the blame squarely on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, with banners and slogans saying, “al-Sharaa is ISIS.” They called for an international committee to investigate the crimes committed.
“Two thousand Druze in Sweida have been killed by the regime,” Bashar Hudefe, who had been a chef in Sweida, told Militant reporter Dag Tirsén. “Israel stopped it. Now the world must know about it.”
“I stood side by side with people like al-Sharaa during the revolution against Assad in Syria,” said Rami Emad. “I risked my life for them, and look what they are doing now!”