The Syrian Future Movement is closely following the reconciliation session held on Saturday evening, August 29, 2026, at Al-Rahman Mosque in the town of Jdeidet Artouz in the Damascus countryside. The session, between residents of the town and dignitaries from Deir ez-Zor Governorate, aimed to end the tensions that had gripped the area over the previous two days.
The Syrian Future Movement commends this unique community model for conflict resolution, which embodies the ability of Syrian communities to contain tensions and rebuild their social fabric, despite attempts at incitement and mobilization aimed at tearing apart the national unity.
The Movement views this session as a victory for collective reason over hate speech and a restoration of the social fabric that has been threatened for decades.
The Syrian Future Movement notes that the events in Jdeidet Artouz, which began as a dispute between children and escalated into sectarian and regional tensions that nearly turned into a major crisis, reflect the sensitivity of the social landscape in Syria and the fragility of the national fabric, which has been torn apart by decades of tyranny and war.
The Syrian Future Movement interprets these events on three interconnected levels:
First, we note that the dispute, which began between children, escalated with the involvement of adults and the use of sticks and metal objects, and then transformed into incitement and regional mobilization campaigns via social media, reflects the profound trauma experienced by Syrian society after years of war and conflict. Children no longer play like children; instead, they are reproducing adult conflicts, while adults find in any minor dispute an outlet for their accumulated anger and frustration.
We believe this incident is a symptom of a deeper social malaise that requires fundamental treatment, not merely firefighting.
Second, we support the role of wise and respected figures in containing the crisis through the reconciliation session held at Al-Rahman Mosque, a symbolic embodiment of religious and social values. We see this traditional mechanism, based on dialogue, mediation, and reconciliation, as a genuine safeguard that protects communities from descending into chaos and violence. We emphasize that these mechanisms, despite their age, prove their effectiveness in the absence of state institutions capable of resolving conflicts quickly and effectively.
Third: We welcome the intervention of the Internal Security Forces to prevent the escalation of events and the imposition of security measures, including a heavy deployment, a curfew, and the establishment of checkpoints in the Zeitoun neighborhood. We believe that the state’s presence was necessary to break the cycle of violence. However, we reiterate that security alone is insufficient; a comprehensive strategy is needed to build trust between local communities and state institutions, strengthen mechanisms for community dialogue, and address the root causes of tension, primarily poverty, unemployment, and the lack of basic services.
In this context, the Syrian Future Movement recalls its consistent positions, published on its official website, which emphasize the priority of preserving civil peace and strengthening mechanisms for community reconciliation:
- Statement on the “Ain Menin Events” (dated August 3, 2026): stressed the importance of community dialogue and mechanisms for peaceful demonstration in resolving local conflicts, away from violence and sabotage.
- Statement on the “Position of the Sheikhs and Residents of Jaramana” (dated July 14, 2026): affirmed that “national unity and social cohesion are the strongest weapons to confront attempts at division and sedition.”
Based on its national responsibility, the Syrian Future Movement recommends the following:
- Strengthening mechanisms for community dialogue and local reconciliation by establishing local dialogue platforms in cities and towns, training community leaders in conflict resolution, and drawing on successful reconciliation experiences, such as the recent Artouz experience, to serve as a model for other areas.
- Addressing the root causes of community tensions, primarily poverty, unemployment, and the lack of basic services, through comprehensive development plans targeting the most vulnerable areas, providing job opportunities, and improving infrastructure, thereby reducing sources of tension and resentment.
- Monitoring hate speech and incitement through media outlets and social media platforms, and taking legal action against instigators, while guaranteeing responsible freedom of expression and protecting the national fabric from attempts at fragmentation.
- Activating the role of tribal leaders and elders in maintaining civil peace by supporting and empowering them, involving them in local decision-making mechanisms, and utilizing their expertise in conflict resolution, thus strengthening their role as bridges of communication between society and the state.
The Syrian Future Movement affirms that civil peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but rather the active presence of mutual trust and cooperation among the various components of society. Any attempt to sow discord or exploit local differences is an attack on the future of Syria.
The Syrian Future Movement will remain committed to supporting all that strengthens civil peace and societal reconciliation, criticizing all that threatens national unity, and monitoring all that is accomplished on the ground, striving for a new Syria where love and justice prevail, and where the dignity of all citizens is protected without discrimination.
