Member of the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC), Khuzama Al-Afif, has stated that the Assad regime is employing tactics to exert pressure on participants in the peaceful movement in Suwayda province. Al-Afif notes that the regime is resorting to familiar methods, including arrests and jeopardizing livelihoods, echoing its historical approach of intimidating demonstrators.
According to Al-Afif, the Assad regime’s use of intimidation measures, such as arrests, threats of job dismissal for protest participants in Suwayda, and warnings of legal action against workers in state institutions engaging in demonstrations, underscores that the repressive mindset of the Assad regime remains unchanged since the onset of the revolution in 2011.
She further emphasizes that the regime’s actions, attempting to hinder the livelihoods of individuals, reveal its concern regarding the perceived threat posed by the peaceful movement in Suwayda. If the movement posed no genuine challenge to the regime, the Assad government would not resort to such measures to deter people from participating in demonstrations calling for political change and the implementation of UN resolutions.
Notably, key figures in Suwayda, including Tariq al-Jamal, the director of the health sector, and Salam Atmat, the director of the National Hospital, have issued threats of dismissal and legal action against doctors, nurses, and laboratories actively participating in anti-regime demonstrations at Karama Square.
In recent days, the peaceful movement in Suwayda has seen increased participation from workers in state health and educational institutions, as well as various unions. Daily demonstrations at Karama Square continue to demand political change, the implementation of UN Resolution 2254, and the realization of freedom, dignity, and democracy, with a growing number of participants.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
