A group of independent UN experts has raised alarm over the violence committed against Syria’s Druze minority following deadly clashes earlier this year.
The experts expressed “deep concern” over attacks targeting the Druze community, citing discrimination based on their faith and other factors. They also condemned online hate speech portraying Druze as “traitors” and “infidels,” along with calls for the abduction and enslavement of Druze women.
Although appointed by the UN Human Rights Council, the experts clarified they do not speak on behalf of the United Nations.
Violence between Druze and Bedouin tribes erupted on 13 July, escalating further when government forces intervened.
While Damascus claims its forces acted to end the clashes, witnesses, Druze groups, and the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) accuse the government of siding with the Bedouins and using violence against the Druze.
According to SOHR, the conflict has resulted in over 1,600 deaths, mostly among Druze civilians. The experts also report widespread displacement, with hundreds of thousands forced to flee, and allege that women were subjected to abduction and rape.
