Syria's minorities demand decentralized state and a constitution that
guarantees pluralism
[August 09, 2025]
By HOGIR AL ABDO
HASSAKEH, Syria (AP) — Hundreds of representatives of Syria’s various
ethnic and religious groups called Friday for the formation of a
decentralized state and the drafting of a new constitution that
guarantees religious, cultural and ethnic pluralism.
The declaration came at the conclusion of a one-day conference where
some 400 representatives of Syria's ethnic and religious minorities
gathered in an attempt to assert the rights of their communities in the
country’s evolving political framework following the fall of President
Bashar al-Assad last December.
The transition is to include elections scheduled for September and the
eventual drafting of a constitution — a process that could take years.
The post-Assad transition has so far been marred by violence against
minorities, raising fears about the future.
In their statements, the representatives condemned recent acts of
violence by pro-government gunmen against the country’s minorities —
primarily Alawites, Druze and Christians — and argued that these amount
to crimes against humanity.
Ghazal Ghazal, the spiritual leader of Syria’s Alawite minority, to whom
Assad belongs, said extremist ideology in Syria is imposing its will on
Syrians in the name of religion and killing minorities. Ghazal called
for setting up a decentralized or federal system in Syria that protects
religious and cultural rights of all components of the Syrian people.
The conference was held in Hassakeh, a northeastern Syrian city under
the control of the Kurdish-led and U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces.
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Elham Ahmad, a senior official with the autonomous administration in
northeast Syria, said she hopes to see the emergence of a Syria
built on cultural and ethnic pluralism.
“This conference sends a message of civil peace and national
reconciliation,” she said.
Violence against minorities following the December fall of the Assad
family dynasty have killed hundreds of people and sent shockwaves
throughout the country. The violence occurred despite pledges from
interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former leader of al-Qaida’s
branch in Syria, that all Syrians would be equally treated.
Hakemat Habib, one of the conference organizers, said that central
governments and “tyrannical regimes” over the past decades have
failed and that a democratic and decentralized state agreed upon by
all Syrians is the only way to move forward. “Syrian identity
includes all Syrians,” he said.
Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri, whose fighters
clashed with pro-government gunmen last month, told the conference
in a televised speech that “pluralism is not a threat but a treasure
that strengthens unity.”
Also Friday, a top commander with the SDF, Sipan Hamo, blasted al-Sharaa’s
government and accused it of continuing Syria's decades-old
“dictatorship.” Hamo said in an interview with a local media outlet
that the SDF wants to join the national army but the al-Sharaa’s
government is not giving hope for a democratic state.
The interim government in Damascus did not comment on the
conference.
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