Damascus: Hikmat al-Hijri, the 60-year-old spiritual leader of Syria's Druze community, played a significant role in the recent violence that resulted in over 500 deaths and posed a threat to Syria's fragile transition after decades of dictatorship. Al-Hijri's actions have sparked a heated debate about his influence and intentions, with opinions sharply divided.
According to Deutsche Welle, critics of al-Hijri have labeled him a belligerent figure whose confrontational stance towards the new Syrian government exacerbated the violence. They accuse him of being an "unhinged warlord," a power-hungry traitor, and a drug smuggler with ties to the remnants of the ousted Syrian dictatorship's military. In contrast, his supporters view him as a "symbol of dignity and nobility," who was justified in defending his community against the new government's overreach.
During the Assad regime and the Syrian civil war, which spanned from 2011 to 2024, al-Hijri's position was one of political expediency. He initially supported the Assad regime, urging young Druze to fight for Bashar Assad. However, by 2023, he had shifted his stance to support Druze protesters against the regime. This shift was not unique to al-Hijri; the other two Druze spiritual leaders also fluctuated in their support for the Assad regime.
The rivalry among the three spiritual leaders, particularly between Jarbou, al-Hanawi, and al-Hijri, further complicated the leadership dynamics within the Druze community. Reports suggest that Jarbou and al-Hanawi distanced themselves from al-Hijri due to disagreements over leadership and representation.
Since the fall of the Assad regime and the emergence of an interim government led by Ahmad al-Sharaa, al-Hijri has become an even more polarizing figure. The Druze, primarily residing in the southern province of Sweida, have been negotiating their role in the new Syria. As a Sunni-majority country, Syria's religious and ethnic minorities, including the Druze, have expressed concerns about their future.
Al-Hijri has been particularly uncompromising in his negotiations with the new government, contrasting with the more conciliatory approaches of Jarbou and al-Hanawi. This was evident when al-Hijri refused to sign a memorandum of understanding between the Druze authorities and the central government, later expressing disagreement with its terms.
The interim government's lack of complete control over national security, coupled with recent outbreaks of violence, has fueled minority communities' fears about their safety. Some argue that al-Hijri's staunch position is justified given these uncertainties.
The recent violence, which erupted on July 13 due to tit-for-tat kidnappings between the Druze and Bedouin communities, saw several ceasefires negotiated. Al-Hijri initially agreed to these ceasefires but later rejected them. Observers like British-Iraqi researcher Aymenn Jawad al-Tamimi suggest that al-Hijri's decision may have been warranted, citing ongoing government forces' violations during peace initiatives.
Throughout the violence, all sides, including Druze fighters, Sunni fighters, and government forces, have faced accusations of atrocities. Disinformation has further muddied the waters, making it difficult to ascertain responsibility.
Al-Hijri's stance reportedly finds support from the Sweida Military Council, a body accused of harboring Assad regime loyalists and engaging in illicit activities. This association has fueled accusations of al-Hijri being a traitor to Syria.
In response to the violence, Syrian Sunni fighters threatened to fight the Druze in Sweida. Al-Hijri appealed to the international community, including the US and Israel, for protection. On July 16, an Israeli airstrike on Damascus, targeting Syria's defense ministry, intensified accusations of treachery against al-Hijri, with the Druze community facing unjust backlash.
The fast-evolving situation, coupled with entrenched attitudes and long-standing prejudices, complicates the narrative of heroism and villainy in recent events. Al-Hijri's actions underscore the lack of consensus within the Druze community and the deepening sectarian tensions in a Syria scarred by communal insecurity. While a ceasefire is currently in place, the recent turmoil has hardened the Syrian Druze community's stance towards the new central government, despite calls for diplomacy from Druze leaders in Lebanon.