As relations between Syria and Israel have escalated recently, the treatment of Syria’s Druze population has also deteriorated. On Sunday, dozens of people blocked the road connecting Damascus to the Druze region of al-Suwayda, preventing civilians from reaching the Syrian capital—a move seen as an attempt to stop students from the province from reaching exam centers in the northern countryside.
Local Syrian sources reported that local authorities refused to allow students from al-Suwayda to reach the special exam centers, following an order from al-Julani granting them a special exam date, according to a report by the Syrian news agency. Forces on the ground prevented civilian vehicles heading toward Damascus from passing, while trucks carrying food, fuel, and flour arriving from the capital were allowed through toward al-Suwayda.
Concern for the future of Druze students arose three months ago, when students couldn’t leave the province at all. At that time, many members of the community who left the province were kidnapped or killed by al-Julani’s security forces. Following that, the leader issued the special order that would allow them to take exams at a different time.
As noted, al-Julani’s order didn’t help, and students were blocked despite its existence. If the crisis doesn’t end soon, thousands of young people in al-Suwayda, who have already suffered through years of tension, face a real risk: losing a year of studies, dropping out, or forced migration. Syrian experts warn that without a quick solution—whether recognition of certificates, the possibility of local exams under neutral supervision, or international assistance—an entire generation will be harmed.