Religious Officials Hold Consultations with Daraa Clergy
Syria’s Minister of Awqaf, Mohammad Abdul-Sattar al-Sayyed, and the Grand Mufti of the Republic, Sheikh Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun, held a high-level meeting with a delegation of imams and religious preachers in the southern province of Daraa. The gathering served as a platform for discussions regarding the current state of religious institutions and the role of the clergy in local society.
During the meeting, officials addressed the importance of maintaining cohesion within religious circles and the responsibilities held by preachers in the current national environment. The dialogue focused on the administration of mosques and the educational guidance provided to the public, as well as the need to ensure that religious discourse remains aligned with state-sanctioned messaging.
Representatives from the Ministry of Awqaf emphasized the significance of local engagement in Daraa, highlighting that strengthening the role of the imams is a vital component of the ministry’s broader efforts to organize and oversee religious practice across all Syrian provinces. The meeting provided a rare opportunity for local religious figures in the province to engage directly with senior ministry and religious leadership regarding the practical challenges they face in their day-to-day operations.
Discussions also touched upon the necessity of fostering stability and social dialogue through the religious community. The Minister underscored the commitment of the central government to support the activities of local preachers, provided they operate under the established national framework. The Grand Mufti reiterated these sentiments, calling for the continued efforts of the clergy to promote messages of unity and constructive social behavior within the local communities they serve.
This visit is part of a series of engagements by senior officials to maintain state presence and influence within the administrative and religious structures of the southern region. The meeting concluded with an exchange of views on how to further empower the ministry’s local branches and improve the delivery of religious services to the population in the province.
Local authorities and religious figures in attendance expressed their commitment to continuing this coordination with the ministry in Damascus, ensuring that local religious activities remain in full cooperation with state objectives. The visit underlines the ongoing efforts of the Syrian government to consolidate its authority over provincial religious and social institutions, particularly in regions that have experienced significant instability over the past decade.
