Syrian Shia Community Statement Warns Against Targeting Their Rights and Calls for Halt to Demolitions in Rural Homs
Syrian Shia Community Statement Warns Against Targeting Their Rights and Calls for Halt to Demolitions in Rural Homs
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Members of Syria’s Shia community have issued a statement addressed to public opinion and the current authorities, condemning what they described as a “clear failure” to protect Shia citizens. They held the ruling authorities fully responsible for any violations affecting their lives, property, or dignity.
The statement said the signatories have always supported building a state of citizenship based on the rule of law and equality among all Syrians. They also expressed support for any transitional process that promotes justice and rejects revenge, but said current developments contradict those principles.
The statement said the demolition of homes, displacement of families, and seizure of property affecting members of the Shia community represent, in their view, a continuation of exclusion and forced displacement. It warned that violating the rights of this community “risks the future of the country and threatens civil peace.”
The signatories rejected any transitional phase that does not guarantee the rights of all Syrian components, stressing that protecting citizens and preserving their rights are essential to any successful political process. They said ignoring these rights would not contribute to stability.
The statement also held the authorities and relevant institutions legally and morally responsible for any attacks or violations targeting members of the Shia community. It called for equality among all citizens and protection for minorities and different social components under the law.
The statement comes amid ongoing controversy over demolition and eviction operations in the village of Al-Mazra’a in western rural Homs. The measures have sparked wide reactions and calls to halt the procedures, conduct transparent investigations, and provide guarantees to protect residents’ rights and prevent any practices involving discrimination among Syria’s communities.
