The Syrian Future Movement condemns the armed attack on the “Free Will” initiative conference held at the Al-Amer Hotel in Suwaida on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. An armed group stormed the hall during the conference sessions, assaulting some participants, damaging property and cameras, and creating chaos and fear among the approximately 70 attendees, including civil society activists, intellectuals, artists, writers, and political activists from the province.
This attack occurred despite the conference having obtained official authorization from the de facto authorities in Suwaida, and despite the presence of police officers who did not intervene to protect the event.
The Syrian Future Movement views this incident as a blatant violation of freedom of opinion and expression, and a systematic attempt to suppress free civil voices seeking to build constructive dialogue and organize public affairs in Suwaida, away from violence and chaos. We believe that the “Free Will” initiative, launched in November 2025, represents a legitimate national effort aimed at establishing a local political and administrative framework that strengthens national unity, rejects civil war, calls for the return of abductees and the liberation of villages, and affirms national sovereignty and rejects foreign interference. We see these goals as consistent with the Syrian people’s vision of a unified and stable state.
The Syrian Future Movement affirms that such actions—whether perpetrated by local armed groups or any entity operating outside the state’s authority—impede the path to national recovery, deepen divisions within Suwaida society, and weaken reconciliation and dialogue efforts. We emphasize that the rejection of peaceful dialogue and the resort to violence demonstrate a fear of stability and transparency, and obstruct the establishment of civil institutions that truly represent the will of the province’s residents.
The Syrian Future Movement proposes the following recommendations:
- An immediate and transparent investigation by the central security and judicial authorities, with the results made public, to identify the perpetrators and hold them legally accountable without exception, thereby restoring confidence in the rule of law.
- Strengthening the protection of civil and dialogue-based activities by ensuring the effective intervention of official security forces and preventing any militias or armed groups from interfering in public affairs, which requires extending state authority over Suwaida.
- Supporting local dialogue initiatives such as “Free Will” by forming joint committees comprising Suwaida’s dignitaries and elders, universities, and civil society, to formulate a unified vision to be presented to the central government as a basis for negotiation and national integration.
- Launching a national program for the disarmament of illegal weapons and the reintegration of armed elements into state institutions, with security and social guarantees, to redirect local energies from conflict to reconstruction.
- Encouraging a comprehensive national dialogue that includes all components of Suwaida (Druze, Arabs, Bedouin, and others) to address historical tensions, focusing on coexistence, the return of displaced persons, and rejecting any inflammatory or accusatory rhetoric.
The Syrian Future Movement calls on all the people of Suwaida – both inside and outside the country – to adhere to peaceful dialogue as the only means to achieve their legitimate demands and to reject violence, which is exploited to prolong suffering. We also call on the central government to strengthen its full sovereignty over all Syrian territory, while respecting the autonomy of each province and supporting constructive civil efforts.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that Syria’s future has not been, and will not be, built except through unity, dialogue, and the rule of law, not through weapons and repression.
We are committed to supporting every step toward building a strong, just, and inclusive state that protects the freedoms of all.
