Restructuring Governance in Suweida: Sheikh Hijri Dissolves the “High Legal Committee”

Sheikh Hikmat Hijri, the spiritual leader of the Druze community in Suweida, has formally announced the dissolution of the “High Legal Committee.” In its stead, Judge Shadi Murshid has been commissioned to establish a new administrative body, designated as the “Board of Directors in Mount Bashan.”

In a public statement, Sheikh Hijri noted that the original committee emerged during a “moment of profound and decisive transformation,” referring to the seminal events that gripped the Suweida governorate in July of the previous year. He characterized the forthcoming Board of Directors as an “emergency administration” primarily tasked with “extricating society from the dire consequences of siege and aggression” and ensuring the restoration of dignified living conditions for the populace.

Security Tensions and Institutional Turmoil

This administrative pivot follows a period of acute security instability within the city. On Monday, armed elements affiliated with the “National Guard”—a group linked to the Spiritual Sheikhdom—reportedly stormed the Directorate of Education. Local sources indicate that these forces intimidated staff and discharged firearms into the air, forcing a cessation of operations.

The escalation culminated in the brief abduction of the Director of Education, Safwan Ballan. This confrontation appears to have been a direct protest against the dismissal of the previous director, Laila Fadlallah Jahjah, and the appointment of Ballan as her successor. Following his release, Ballan formally declined the appointment.

The Legacy of the High Legal Committee

Established in July 2025 by decree of the Spiritual Leadership, the High Legal Committee was composed of nine prominent legal minds, including six judges and three attorneys. Its mandate was expansive, designed to manage Suweida’s administrative, security, and service sectors while safeguarding public and private institutions.

The committee’s operational framework included:

• Executive Oversight: Managing service-related affairs through a dedicated executive office.
• Humanitarian Advocacy: Establishing sub-committees for relief, fact-finding, and documenting human rights violations.
• Social Support: Tracking the status of the missing and forcibly disappeared, alongside providing aid to the families of the wounded and fallen.
• Economic Stability: Protecting banks, economic facilities, and supporting the functionality of both public and private hospitals.

A Parallel Authority in a Fragile Landscape

The formation and subsequent restructuring of such committees represent the consolidation of a localized authority operating parallel to the state apparatus. This trend has gained momentum amidst the escalating political and security tensions defining southern Syria.

While these bodies aim to combat corruption and alleviate the suffering of citizens, the recent incursions into government facilities have sparked internal calls for restraint. Local observers warn that targeting public institutions—regardless of the political motivation—directly imperils the delivery of essential services and threatens the fragile stability upon which the civilians of Suweida depend.

 

 

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.

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