A statement on the position on the violations and demands of the Law and Dignity sit-in (We want to live) – Youssef Al-Azmeh Square in Damascus

A statement on the position on the violations and demands of the Law and Dignity sit-in (We want to live) – Youssef Al-Azmeh Square in Damascus
Titled: “Tyranny of collection and suppression of dignity”
Issued by: The National Council for Human Rights
the date: 18 April 2026

1. Introduction to the position:
   The National Council for Human Rights condemns the systematic attacks that targeted peaceful protesters in Youssef Al-Azmeh Square in Damascus on 17 April. The Council documents that the square did not witness shooting, but rather witnessed what was more strategically dangerous: “Systematic societal oppression”. Where it replaced de facto authority (Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham) Lead b “Bullying” Insults and direct physical assault, to silence the voice of rightful living demands and make observers believe that they are “Protect civilians from each other”.
   The transformation of the tools of oppression from live bullets to... “Functional repression” By pushing mob groups (The new shabiha) To hit and insult civilians is an attempt to evade criminal responsibility on a pretext “Societal disputes” The situation becomes more unstable, which further divides the components of Syrian society and creates the appearance of a protecting party. It is a repetition of what happened previously, on a broader scale, in terms of crimes in As-Suwayda Governorate (Between the Druze component and the Bedouin component).
2. Documented facts and evidence:
   • Militarization of oppression: The Council monitored, with conclusive evidence, the infiltration of elements raising flags “Al-Nusra Front” Doctrinal battle cries are raised among the aggressor groups, which belies the allegations “Civil transformation” Which the Authority markets internationally.
   • Gender and age targeting: The Council documented humiliating verbal and physical attacks against Damascene women and the elderly, breaking activists’ phones to prevent documentation of facts, and using hate speech and treason to legitimize violations, which is a flagrant violation of Article (7) and(19) From the International Covenant on Civil Rights.
   • Systematic incitement: The Council has documentation of armed and unarmed threats that preceded the movement, which confirms that the attack was a central decision and not an individual act..
3. Contents “Spark of Damascus” (The voice of truth):
   Through registered logos and certificates (Among them is the testimony of an elderly Damascene woman who summarized the city’s pain)The Council limited the demands of the protesters to:
   • Restoring the state’s identity: Rejecting the penetration of religious institutions into the administration (Ministries)And demanding the return of arbitrarily dismissed competencies.
   • Living security: Protesting the crippling electricity bills, the starvation policy, and imposing innovative royalties that plunder Syrians’ property.
   • Protecting economic sovereignty: A categorical rejection of the privatization of state assets and the sale of its capabilities under cover “Fake investments”The file of the Ottoman endowment and the return of guardianship.
4. Legal description and liability:
   The Council confirms that “Interim authority (Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham)” As the de facto collection authority, it bears full legal responsibility for:
5. Intentional failure to protect: to leave “Shabiha” They attack peaceful people under the watchful eye of the security services.
6. Contractual betrayal: Collecting taxes and royalties without providing the basic necessities of life (Electricity, food, dignity).
7. Strengthening abroad: Bartering and selling the state’s assets in exchange for the international community’s silence about its extremist ideology, repressive practices, and previous crimes.
8. Burnout strategy: Betting that hunger and poverty will force the people to accept “Investment crumbs” Cross borders.
9. Managing chaos: Creating an internal societal rift to make an appearance “Guarantor of stability” In front of international powers.
10. Conclusion:
    The report attached to the documentary video puts the international community before its responsibilities. It is not possible to legitimize an authority that plunders its people and confronts it “Rose wreaths” Protesters with legitimate demands cry out atonement and bullying. The National Council will remain the legal voice for all components of the Syrian people until the stolen rights and sovereignty are restored in a civil, democratic state for all components of the Syrian people.. that “Spark of Damascus” Which was launched by legal and social demands that will not be extinguished by mob intimidation. The history of Damascus does not have mercy on those who sold its sovereignty, plundered its assets, and suppressed the dignity of its people in exchange for remaining in power..
    Mr. Qutaiba Qasim Al-Arab
    President of the National Council for Human Rights
    Attachments:
    • YouTube video link to the Council’s channel: [https://youtu.be/PrdT1YdAy28?si=_cz13PsHyCANEgva]
    • Documentation of demands and violations of the Al Karama sit-in.

Statement on the position regarding the violations and demands of the “Law and Dignity” (We Want to Live) Sit-in – Yousef al-Azma Square, Damascus
Title: “The Tyranny of Levies and the Suppression of Dignity”

Issued by: The National Council for Human Rights (NCHR)
Date: April 18, 2026

1. Introduction and Context:
   The National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) strongly condemns the systematic attacks targeting peaceful protesters in Yousef al-Azma Square, Damascus, on April 17. The Council documents that while the square did not witness gunfire, it witnessed something strategically more dangerous: “Systematic Societal Suppression.” The de facto authority (Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham) replaced bullets with “thuggery” (White), verbal abuse, and direct physical assault to silence legitimate livelihood demands and mislead observers into believing it is “protecting civilians from one another.”
   The shift in repressive tools from live ammunition to “Functional Suppression”—by deploying mob groups (the New Shabiha) to beat and humiliate civilians—is a clear attempt to evade criminal responsibility under the pretext of “societal disputes” and “unrest.” This tactic deliberately deepens the rift within the Syrian social fabric, falsely presenting the authority as a protective entity; a recurrence of previous crimes committed on a larger scale in As-Suwayda governorate (between the Druze and Bedouin components).
2. Documented Facts and Evidence:
   • Militarization of Suppression: The Council has monitored definitive evidence of the infiltration of elements raising “Nusra Front” banners and chanting extremist combat slogans amidst the attacking groups. This refutes the claims of “civilian transformation” that the authority promotes internationally.
   • Gender and Age-Based Targeting: The Council documented insulting verbal and physical assaults against Damascene women and the elderly, and the smashing of female activists’ phones to prevent factual documentation. This constitutes a flagrant violation of Articles (7) and (19) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), along with the use of hate speech and accusations of treason to legitimize violations.
   • Systematic Incitement: The Council possesses documentation of armed and non-armed threats that preceded the movement, confirming that the attack was a centralized decision and not an individual act.
3. Demands of the “Damascus Spark” (The Voice of Truth):
   Through slogans and recorded testimonies (including the testimony of an elderly Damascene woman summarizing the city’s pain), the Council has identified the protesters’ demands as follows:
   • Restoration of State Identity: Rejecting the infiltration of religious institutions into administrative sectors (ministries) and demanding the reinstatement of qualified personnel dismissed arbitrarily.
   • Livelihood Security: Protesting against prohibitive electricity bills, the policy of starvation, and the innovative levies that plunder the property of Syrians.
   • Protection of Economic Sovereignty: Absolute rejection of the forced privatization of state assets and the selling of Syrian resources under the guise of “illusory investments,” including the file of the Ottoman Endowment (Endowment) and the return of guardianship.
4. Legal Characterization and Responsibility:
   The Council affirms that the “Temporary Authority (Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham),” in its capacity as the de facto levying authority, bears full legal responsibility for:
5. Deliberate Failure to Protect: Allowing “thugs” to attack peaceful protesters under the sight of security apparatuses.
6. Contractual Treason: Collecting taxes and levies without providing the minimum necessities of life (electricity, food, dignity).
7. International Leveraging: Trading state assets and selling them in exchange for international silence regarding its extremist ideology, repressive practices, and previous crimes.
8. Exhaustion Strategy: Betting that hunger and poverty will force the people to accept “investment crumbs” from across the borders.
9. Chaos Management: Creating domestic societal rifts to appear as the “guarantor of stability” before international powers.
10. Conclusion:
    The report accompanying the documentary video places the international community before its responsibilities; an authority that plunders its people and meets “garlands of flowers” from protesters with legitimate demands with cries of takfir and thuggery cannot be legitimized. The National Council will remain the legal voice for all components of the Syrian people until plundered rights are restored and sovereignty is established in a civil, democratic state for all Syrians. The “Damascus Spark,” ignited by legal and social demands, will not be extinguished by the intimidation of mobs. The history of Damascus does not forgive those who sold its sovereignty, looted its assets, and suppressed the dignity of its people to remain in power.
    Mr. Khuhaba Qisim Al-Arab
    President of the National Council for Human Rights (NCHR)
    Attachments:
    

National Council for Human Rights, Qutaiba Qasim Al-Arab, Youssef Al-Azma Square, Damascus sit-in, human rights violations in Syria, Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham, suppression of demonstrators, new shabiha, Ottoman endowment, privatization of state assets, living demands, Syrian sovereignty.

National Council for Human Rights, NCHR, Khuhaba Qisim Al-Arab, Damascus Protests, Human Rights Violations Syria, Yousef al-Azma Square, HTS Violations, Forced Privatization, Syrian Sovereign Rights, Livelihood Demands, Systematic