Washington – “Western Syria Development Organization” provided logistical and organizational support to host a media briefing regarding the Swaida massacres, in coordination with Druze community representatives and the “Druze League.” This briefing was held within the halls of the US Congress, coinciding with the commemoration of the first anniversary of the Swaida massacres. This event culminated the organization’s efforts over the past year in engaging with policymakers and the media to highlight the ongoing violations against the components of the Syrian people and to urge the international community to intervene and prevent ethnic cleansing.
The Swaida Massacres and the Sequence of Violations Against Syrian Components
The briefing opened with a statement on behalf of the organization delivered by Milan Dalal, Representative of the Western Syria Development Organization, who explained that the horrific violence that struck Swaida governorate resulted in field executions, the displacement of families, the looting and burning of properties, and the abduction of women. He noted that these events, which claimed the lives of over a thousand people and displaced nearly 200,000 others, cannot be viewed in isolation from the overall trajectory of events in Syria.
Dalal then reviewed a series of systematic violations that affected other components, explaining that:
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In March 2025, Alawite communities were subjected to mass sectarian killings along the Syrian coast, leaving families to live in constant fear.
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Christian communities also faced intimidation and attacks targeting religious symbols during Easter, culminating in a suicide bombing at the Mar Elias Church in Damascus in June 2025 that killed worshippers.
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The Kurdish neighborhoods in Aleppo were not spared from this escalation; in January, they faced attacks by government forces leading to new waves of displacement.
Dalal concluded his speech by asking, “Will the new Syria protect all its children?” stressing that the protection of Syrian components is no longer merely an “internal affair.”
The Abductees File and Cases of Enforced Disappearance
Shifting to the details of the violations, the briefing dedicated a central space to the file of abducted and forcibly disappeared persons, particularly women and girls.
Dr. Jens Kreinath, Professor of Anthropology and Academic Researcher, delivered a statement documenting 131 missing female cases (including 112 Alawite girls and women), presenting evidence indicating the complicity of security apparatuses. This document was distributed to attendees and will be officially submitted to 134 members of the US Congress.
Furthermore, Dr. Charles Jacobs, Human Rights Activist and Founder and President of the American Anti-Slavery Group, alongside Dr. Jens, addressed the issue of the enslavement of women and coercive detention. They reviewed the victims’ file, highlighting the young woman “Batoul Alloush” as a symbol of the suffering of all abducted women in Syria. They explained that Batoul was abducted and forced under threat to appear in fabricated recordings to conceal the fact of her detention and prevent her from contacting her family.
Political Framing and the Right to Self-Determination for “Persecuted Communities”
Dr. Walid Phares, Academic and Political Affairs Researcher, provided a comprehensive political and analytical reading of the events, asserting that what happened in Swaida governorate—whose area roughly equals half the size of Lebanon—was not merely clashes, but targeted structural “genocide.” He explained that this targeting grants the residents of Swaida the legitimate right to self-determination according to international charters, whether they choose to form a state, a republic, or exist within a federal system.
Dr. Phares emphasized that the regime in Damascus is considered a “jihadist regime” based on its rhetoric and practices, clearly warning that the “federalism” option, even if proposed under this regime, is incompatible with “jihadism,” as jihadist groups could seek at any moment to reshape this path and circumvent it. He cited historical experiences proving that the determination of peoples ultimately triumphs, such as the case of East Timor, which gained its independence despite its small population compared to Indonesia, as well as the experience of the Jewish diaspora following the Holocaust.
Modifying US Policy and Relying on the Moderate Majority
Dr. Phares also addressed US foreign policy, indicating that the policy of “giving a chance” to the regime should not continue indefinitely, especially if it contradicts national security. He called for an adjustment in US policy to support liberation options for Swaida and other regions.
He affirmed that the majority of the American people will stand alongside these communities if the issue is clearly explained to them. He stressed the necessity of changing the term “minorities” to “persecuted communities,” simultaneously calling for reliance on and support for the unarmed “moderate Sunni majority” (recalling the Egyptian people’s uprising against the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013 as an example). He concluded his speech by noting the importance of allying with liberal and secular forces in the region (including the peoples of Iran, Egypt, and Turkey) to establish an alliance for freedom and democracy in the Middle East.
Concluding Recommendations and Demands
At the conclusion of the event, the Western Syria Development Organization issued urgent appeals to Congress, the US Administration, and the international community, demanding the following:
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Take concrete and verifiable actions that go beyond verbal promises.
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Establish an independent international investigative mechanism and preserve evidence related to violations to ensure perpetrators do not escape accountability.
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Remove foreign jihadist fighters from any positions of power or influence.
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Ensure genuine representation for all Syrian components and provide credible international oversight mechanisms to protect vulnerable communities.