WASHINGTON, D.C. | Thrive News — The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has issued a forceful condemnation of the recent wave of violence targeting Syria’s Druze community in Suweida, calling it part of a disturbing pattern of abuse under the country’s transitional authorities.
In a statement released Friday, USCIRF Commissioner Maureen Ferguson warned that the current transitional government, which took power after the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, has failed to uphold its promises of protecting Syria’s religious and ethnic diversity.
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“This latest attack in Suweida is a clear indication that the transitional authorities are failing to rein in violent extremist groups and protect the diverse Syrian populations they claim to represent,” Ferguson said. “The United States should not accept at face value the transitional authorities’ promises of religious and ethnic inclusivity. Our government must condition further assistance to Syria on those authorities taking specific steps to demonstrate significant improvement.”
The recent violence comes on the heels of multiple deadly assaults earlier this year, including massacres and clashes near Damascus in April and May. USCIRF reports that militias affiliated with the transitional regime—including extremist groups like Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is designated by the U.S. government as an Entity of Particular Concern for religious freedom violations—have increasingly targeted religious minorities with brutality.
Since the toppling of Assad’s government, the seven months of transitional rule have seen alarming incidents involving executions, looting, arson, and abductions against minority populations. The Druze, a small religious sect with a long history in Syria, have been among the most severely impacted.
Commissioner Mohamed Elsanousi added to the warning, saying, “These recent outbreaks of severe violence throughout Syria are disproportionately affecting Syria’s religious minority communities, including Druze, Alawis, Christians, and others. The U.S. government must demand protection for all religious communities in its dialogue with the transitional authorities. Furthermore, it must observe meaningful progress toward providing such protection prior to lifting sanctions.”
USCIRF has reiterated these concerns in its latest Syria Policy Update, renewing its call for U.S. officials to press Syrian authorities to prove their commitment to safeguarding religious freedom. The Commission also recommended that Syria be placed on the Special Watch List under the International Religious Freedom Act, citing ongoing abuses and the lack of meaningful reform.
In its 2025 Annual Report, USCIRF emphasized that without decisive accountability measures, including the withholding of aid and targeted sanctions, the transitional government is unlikely to improve its treatment of vulnerable religious groups.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom is an independent, bipartisan agency that advises the President, Secretary of State, and Congress on foreign policy actions to promote global religious liberty.
