Syrians protest against Sweida killings in London and Paris

LONDON – Dozens of Syrians from minority communities rallied on July 19 in London and Paris, calling for action to protect the Druze in their Sweida heartland, where sectarian violence has killed hundreds.

In central London, around 80 protesters chanted “God protect Druze” and “Stop supporting Jolani”, referring to Syrian interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa’s nom de guerre, which he had abandoned after his Islamist group seized Damascus in late 2024.

Demonstrators in the British capital held up placards calling for an end to the deadly violence in Sweida and for a humanitarian corridor to be opened up via the Jordanian border.

More than 900 people have been killed in the Druze-majority province since July 13, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor.

The sectarian clashes between the Druze and Bedouin tribes, who are Sunni Muslim, have drawn in the Islamist-led government as well as Israel and armed tribes from other parts of Syria.

In London, protest organiser Emad al Eismy told AFP atrocities were still going on in Sweida.

“Shootings, beheadings, raping, killing children, (torching) shops, homes. It’s a barbarian movement going on in Sweida,” he said at the protest outside BBC headquarters.

‘Like ethnic cleansing’

AFP correspondents in Sweida reported clashes on July 19, despite a ceasefire ordered by the government following a US-brokered deal to avert further Israeli military intervention.

The Observatory, a Britain-based war monitor, said armed volunteers had been deployed with the support of the Islamist-led government.

Druze fighters said those who had arrived to support the Bedouin were mostly Islamists.

Protester Maan Radwan, who has family in Sweida, fought back tears as he said some of his relatives had died in a massacre at their guest house.

He reproached British Foreign Secretary David Lammy for his visit to Syria earlier in July, when he met Mr Sharaa.

The United Nations has called for an end to the bloodshed and demanded an independent investigation of the violence.

Mr William Salha, like most of the protesters, also has family members still living in Sweida.

He said they were “helpless”, shut in their homes, attempting to keep themselves safe.

“It’s like ethnic cleansing. They want the city without its people,” he said, accusing the Syrian government of complicity.

A teenager from south London at the protest with his mother said multiple members of his father’s family had been gunned down and killed, with the news filtering out through an aunt.

“The armed groups came to them, they tried to resist and they shot them,” he said.

‘Where is France?’

At the Paris protest, Ms Aida Haladi wore black and clutched a picture of her 52-year-old brother, who she said was killed in front of his home on the morning of July 17 in Sweida city.

She said he had stepped out to grab some blood pressure medication he had forgotten.

“He was an honest man. He never tried to hurt a soul,” she said.

“Where is France?” Ms Haladi said, accusing Syria’s Interim President of complicity and angry at France’s leader Emmanuel Macron for having hosted him in Paris in May.

Hours later, France urged all sides to “strictly adhere” to the ceasefire.

Ms Eva Radwan, a 41-year-old PhD student, held up a picture of her 34-year-old cousin and his two nephews, aged 13 and 16, whom she said had been shot dead inside their home.

She said her parents had been forced to move houses after their neighbourhood was bombarded earlier this week.

“Jolani get out, Syria is not yours,” she shouted into a megaphone in front of the Eiffel Tower, leading about 20 other protesters.

She also called for Jordan to open its border to let in aid.

The Observatory said at least 940 people had been killed since July 13, including 326 Druze fighters and 262 Druze civilians, 165 of whom were summarily executed. AFP