Post-Assad Syria: Fragile Parliamentary Elections and Minority Restrictions
Post-Assad Syria: Fragile Parliamentary Elections and Minority Restrictions
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The Syrian parliamentary elections, held under the supervision of the interim government led by Ahmad al-Sharaa, were marked by widespread restrictions on the participation of women and minorities. Several key provinces, including Hasakah, Raqqa, and Sweida, were largely excluded from the process. Analysts suggest this performative election deepens concerns about the country’s centralized power structure and long-term political stability.
More details in the following report:
According to Deutsche Welle Persian, out of the 210 seats in the parliament, only 121 seats were filled through local councils, with the remaining members being appointed by the interim president. Key provinces—Hasakah and Raqqa in the northeast, and Sweida in the south—which are home to significant Kurdish and Druze minorities, were marginalized from the electoral process.
Ovin Ibrahim, a journalist and expert on Syrian affairs from Qamishlo, noted that the promise of 25% representation for women was not fulfilled, and participation was severely limited. Official results indicated that only six women and ten representatives from ethnic and religious minorities (including Kurds, Christians, and two Alawites) secured seats.
The political backdrop remains fragile, with continued sporadic violence in the coastal Alawite-majority areas, Sweida, and the autonomous regions of the north and east.
A report by the UN Fact-Finding Commission stated that over 1,400 Alawite civilians and approximately 600 Druze were killed in recent months. These clashes are intensifying fears of escalating sectarian tensions and a deepening security crisis.
Furthermore, the interim government has failed to officially recognize Nowruz (the Persian New Year) and International Women’s Day in the national calendar. Cultural activists and minorities view this action as restricting their social and cultural participation. Hawzhin Baqali, a sociology researcher and feminist activist, warned that the concentration of power and the suppression of cultural diversity prevent genuine minority participation.
Experts contend that without addressing minority rights and ensuring genuine inclusion in power-sharing, Syria’s parliamentary elections—perceived as a fragile process—cannot guarantee the country’s stability or democratic development.
