Starting in July, Sunni Islamist extremists, Bedouin militants, and Syrian government forces committed a series of massacres and atrocities against Druze and Christian religious minorities in Sweida, a city in southwest Syria. According to multiple reports, many hundreds of civilians remain kidnapped or missing and too little aid is reaching the region, despite efforts by Israel and others to open a humanitarian corridor.
Sweida is a majority-Druze city in Syria – a majority Sunni Muslim country. The Druze are a religious minority with an estimated population of around 1 million people worldwide. Most live in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel. Druze have faced persecution in the Middle East for centuries. However, in Israel the Druze are an integral part of society and many put their lives on the line for their Jewish neighbors by serving in the IDF.
This is a major reason why Israel took military action to stop the attacks in Sweida.
The atrocities against Druze and Christians in the city reportedly included rape, mass kidnapping, and the murder of children, similar to the massacre Hamas carried out on October 7. Like Hamas, the terrorists in Syria broadcast many of their crimes on social media. They also made genocidal threats. An estimated 1,700 people were killed, 228,000 displaced, and over 720 were kidnapped or went missing.
Despite efforts by the U.S. and Israel, Sweida is still under siege and civilians there are not getting enough aid. Additionally, Druze leaders are calling for an international investigation because they do not trust the Syrian government to hold perpetrators of the atrocities accountable.
This story has barely been reported outside the Middle East.
Without urgent action, Druze, Christians, and other religious minorities in Syria are at risk of continued genocidal violence.
Take Action Now!
Join the campaign urging your Member of Parliament to act. Here’s how:
- Write to your Member of Parliament. You can find your MP here. Ask them to act to protect Druze and Christian minorities from genocidal violence in Syria!
- Share the Message: Use your social media platforms to raise awareness. Call on others to voice their concerns!
Additional Context: The Druze are a religious minority who split from Islam in the 11th century and have faced persecution in the region since. About 700,000 Druze adherents live in Syria, while 150,000 and 250,000 live in Israel and Lebanon, respectively.
When the Syrian military attacked Syria’s Druze Community, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched an aerial campaign to thwart impending genocide as the world stood still. Israel has continued delivering
SAMPLE MESSAGE:
SUBJECT LINE: Urgent Action Needed: Protect Druze and Christian Minorities in Syria
Dear [NAME OF ELECTED OFFICIAL],
I am writing to you as your constituent to ask for your help urging immediate action in response to an unfolding humanitarian and human rights crisis in Sweida, Syria.
Starting in July, Sunni Islamist extremists, Bedouin militants, and Syrian government forces committed a series [1] of massacres [2] similar to the October 7th massacre—this time targeting Druze and Christian religious minorities with genocidal threats.[3]
An estimated 1,700 people were killed, 228,000 displaced, and over 720, including women and girls, were kidnapped or went missing. Just like Hamas on October 7th, the perpetrators documented these atrocities themselves. Sweida is now under siege, its residents cut off and vulnerable, while Jordan refuses to open its borders to fleeing civilians.
Without immediate intervention, the Druze and Christian populations are at risk of continued genocidal violence by extremists in Syria.
I respectfully ask that you urge the Canadian government and use your voice to:
- Condemn the atrocities and demand the immediate release of the Christian and Druze people who have been abducted;
- Pressure the Syrian regime and its allies to remove all barriers to humanitarian aid entering Sweida and support humanitarian efforts in the region, including those led by Israel; and,
- Ensure an independent investigation of the atrocities committed by Sunni Islamist extremists, Bedouin militants, and Syrian government forces in Sweida.
Canada has long stood for protecting vulnerable minorities, defending religious freedom, and supporting human rights globally. If we stay silent in the face of this urgent crisis, we risk undermining the very principles our foreign policy claims to uphold.
Canada cannot stay silent. Silence and inaction will only embolden further crimes against vulnerable communities.
Thank you for your urgent attention to this serious matter.
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
[1] https://sweida-massacre.com/Home
[2] https://x.com/TheFP/status/1949904459498475901?t=DrUUVoWi94ycAAd_bRridA&s=19
[3] https://x.com/Osint613/status/1946248111870845176
