Druze leaders in Syria called for restraint on Thursday over fears the assassination of a major figure in the sect’s southern heartland could turn an 11-month civil disobedience movement in the area into violence
Morhej Al Jaramani, who headed a militia in the mostly Druze governorate of Suweida, was assassinated on Tuesday at his home in Suweida city.
His armed loyalists guarded the demonstrations in the province against the rule of President Bashar Al Assad, helping establish a balance of power between unarmed Druze opposed to the President, and regular and paramilitary troops, comprising different sects, loyal to him.
The sustained protests in Suweida since last August have undermined the perception of unanimous support among Syria's minorities for Mr Al Assad, himself a member of the minority Alawite sect, since civil war broke out in 2011. This perceived support has underpinned Syria's system of rule since officers mostly from the Alawite sect took power in 1963 coup.
At Mr Al Jaramani's funeral on Thursday, Sheikh Hikmat Al Hajiri, the most senior of a triumvirate that forms the religious leadership of Syria’s Druze, said that the slain militia leader was a cornerstone of "preserving security" in Suweida and that his death was a "loss to freedom".
Sheikh Al Jajiri told mourners that whoever killed Mr Al Jaramani "must be punished", but their identity must be ascertained first.
Mr Al Jaramani was killed by one bullet in the head, fired through a window into his bedroom, according to the Suwayda24 network of citizen journalists. The funeral was in the village of Umm Al Zaytun, north of Suweida city.
Marwan Rizq, another Druze sheikh, who is not part of the triumvirate, said that the killing aimed to lure the Druze into mounting a violent retaliation against the regime.
"We will be triumphant, but with the olive branch," he said. "You [the regime] will not be able to drag us to your [armed] scene.
"When this doomed junta perishes, the homeland will be at peace."
The peaceful nature of the mass demonstrations, even though security forces have fired at the protesters, is seen as a major factor behind the continuation of the Suweida uprising. The non-violence is seen as having drawn previously apolitical Druze to the protest movement as economic conditions deteriorated in regime areas.
On Monday, security forces fired at a demonstration in central Suweida, wounding a man in his 70s. The crowd had gathered to protest against the election being held that day for the Syria's rubber stamp parliament. The poll was reportedly widely boycotted in Suweida.
In February, Druze gunmen attacked security installations after security forces shot dead a pro-democracy demonstrator, but the violence stopped quickly.
Suweida has been an anomaly throughout the Syrian civil war. Many residents armed themselves at the onset of the conflict, but stayed on the sidelines and mostly refused to serve in the military while also not actively attacking the state.
The Druze are a transnational minority, with a presence in Israel, Jordan and Lebanon. They are mainly concentrated in Suweida and in the southern Damascus suburb of Jaramana.
They numbered an estimated 700,000 in Syria before the 2011 revolt.
Suhail Thubian, a prominent civil figure in Suweida, told The National that the authorities had avoided using mass violence to crush the protest movement because Russia, the President's most powerful backer, appears opposed to such a move.
The assassination of Mr Al Jaramani, he said, was another attempt by the authorities to undermine the protest movement.
"The regime has been betting that we will give up and quit [protesting] on our own" he said. "It accused us of being separatists, it accused us of being agents of Israel, it fired at the demonstrations, and now this."
FIXTURES (all times UAE)
Sunday
Brescia v Lazio (3.30pm)
SPAL v Verona (6pm)
Genoa v Sassuolo (9pm)
AS Roma v Torino (11.45pm)
Monday
Bologna v Fiorentina (3.30pm)
AC Milan v Sampdoria (6pm)
Juventus v Cagliari (6pm)
Atalanta v Parma (6pm)
Lecce v Udinese (9pm)
Napoli v Inter Milan (11.45pm)
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Brief scores:
Pakistan (1st innings) 181: Babar 71; Olivier 6-37
South Africa (1st innings) 223: Bavuma 53; Amir 4-62
Pakistan (2nd innings) 190: Masood 65, Imam 57; Olivier 5-59
SPECS
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The%20Specs
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Results
5pm: Reem Island – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Farasah, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Musabah Al Muhairi
5.30pm: Sir Baniyas Island – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: SSR Ghazwan, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Astral Del Sol, Sean Kirrane, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6.30pm: Al Maryah Island – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Toumadher, Dane O’Neill, Jaber Bittar
7pm: Yas Island – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: AF Mukhrej, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Saadiyat Island – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 2,400m; Winner: Celestial Spheres, Gary Sanchez, Ismail Mohammed
Company%20profile
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THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDirect%20Debit%20System%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sept%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20with%20a%20subsidiary%20in%20the%20UK%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elaine%20Jones%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
Company%20Profile
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Why%20all%20the%20lefties%3F
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THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
On sale: now
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
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Jawan
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Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
Stage 5 results
1 Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 3:48:53
2 Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ) Astana Pro Team -
3 Adam Yates (GBR) Mitchelton-Scott -
4 David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 0:00:04
5 Ilnur Zakarin (RUS) CCC Team 0:00:07
General Classification:
1 Adam Yates (GBR) Mitchelton-Scott 20:35:04
2 Tadej Pogacar (SlO) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:01
3 Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ) Astana Pro Team 0:01:33
4 David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 0:01:48
5 Rafał Majka (POL) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:02:11
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.