Sheikh Hikmat Salman al-Hijri

We address you

At the outset, we pray for mercy upon the souls of our righteous martyrs, and wish our wounded a speedy recovery.

Honorable kinsfolk and sons... As this difficult year draws to a close for all of us, we address you from our position in the Spiritual Leadership with this familiar community address... May tomorrow be better in accordance with your rightful demands and tireless efforts, through your vigilance and patience, so that we may reach safe harbor as soon as possible.

A year ago... the tyrant fled under international arrangements, and his fragile regime collapsed without a trace, replaced by a regime of politicized factions alongside takfiri gangs mixed with Daesh elements and foreigners. Throughout this transitional period, we have felt no difference between the horrors of the tyrant's regime and the horrors and massacres of the new gang regime, except in names and outward forms...

Whenever we demanded the rights of Syrians, the deep-seated hatred toward us grew, and they began fabricating pretexts to invade and exterminate us... until their hatred breached our borders, bringing upon us the tragedies of Black July, committing massacres and atrocities against our innocent civilian people. They burned our homes, looted our livelihoods, violated honors and customs, and we were prevented from returning to our villages under security pretexts and international dictates...

We will remain steadfast in reclaiming our homes, where many fell as martyrs, and we were unable to reach them to bury their pure bodies, which decomposed in the open—rendering the crime unprecedented in its heinousness throughout human history... Therefore, our men rose in defense of the land, honor, and existence; we defeated the campaign of extermination, and declared our demand for independence to preserve our dignity and peace, through the exercise of the right to self-determination in accordance with international laws. We will not back down as long as our will

remains steadfast and united according to the will of our people. For our blood and the blood of our families and ancestors are kneaded into the soil of Bashan, rooted in its steadfast blue rock...

Everyone must unify their direction, share mutual trust, and place faith in those carrying the responsibility of leadership... For our deep wound remains open... our free women and sons remain subject to kidnapping and enforced disappearance, shelling continues to strike our people's homes every night, and we remain under siege from all directions and across all

spheres... Therefore, we urge you to stay clear of altercations, support one another, and refrain from vengeance, plotting, fabrication, and misplaced accusations of treason.

Let no one outbid us—neither through unauthorized representation, nor through opinions or any stances at odds with the orientation of the people of Bashan...

And let those outside our ranks cease showing hostility toward us through devious ways, contrary to what is incumbent upon them. We know our situation best.

Dear kinsfolk and loved ones... The Spiritual Leadership condemns all unlawful acts, and calls for holding traitors

and terrorists accountable. We add that anyone who dares to rob their own people, their livelihood, and their aid; those who trade in people’s sustenance and living essentials and exchange bribes; anyone who steals the livelihoods of their brothers and attacks public

and private property without right; those who obstruct the course of justice and exploit the country's situation through thuggery, terror, and the trampling of rights; and those who spread falsehoods to sow discord—are no different from terrorists, deserve punishment, and no one should think they will escape the consequences of their shameful deeds, whatever they may be.

For our people, even if they overlook things today, will never forget who robbed them, who killed them, who attempts to undermine their resilience, and who attempts to violate their dignity. We emphasize that no single person is authorized to hold others accountable or administer punishment on their own, as there are competent bodies designated for that. The perpetrator shall be held to account for their actions, and whoever betrays us is not one of us.

It saddens us that there are weak souls among us; what we witnessed recently in terms of betrayal and attempts to break their own people proves they were not worthy of belonging to Bashan and its people. They have been duly referred to the judiciary. We affirm that we will not forgive any criminal responsible for our people's blood, whoever they may be, and we will show no mercy to anyone belonging to the groups of darkness, terrorism, and treason.

We will remain in positions of defense, and woe to the aggressor...

Beloved ones... We condemn the continued sectarian incitement, the insistence on exterminating minorities, and the pursuit of terror despite the popular and international will. We condemn the sectarian attacks and massacres carried out against our Alawite and Christian brothers in Homs and the Coastal region,

as well as the ongoing attacks against SDF areas. The continuation of this approach brings nothing but woe and destruction to the region, and we demand international parties intervene and halt all these violations and assaults. We affirm our full support for the rights of our Kurdish brothers, and we support and commend our brothers in the Syrian Coast for their vigilance and rejection of injustice in their areas.

Dear kinsfolk and brothers...

We follow the situation of our sons and people in the diaspora across all corners of the world—these noble champions who have offered everything they could to their families. We care deeply for them, monitor what they face in the diaspora, and have repeatedly sought to relieve their hardships.

We say to them: Wherever you are, your voice resounds with pride among us; wherever you shower your blessings, Mount Bashan flourishes through your giving. You are our ambassadors wherever you may be. May our star remain luminous and giving to humanity, and wherever you go, you are builders of homelands and makers of peace.

All greetings and appreciation to our army in the National Guard Forces, for their authenticity and fine, organized voluntary structure. They are the defenders of Bashan and its people...

Thanks are also extended to the internal security personnel, officers and members; they will have an even greater presence through their professionalism and the fulfillment of their duties in the posts they took up as volunteers in devotion to their people...

Greetings to the Christian brothers who stand firm with us and among us—and how could they not, when they are children of Bashan... Amid all our pain and suffering, we do not forget to commemorate the birth of Christ of Truth, praying that the coming year returns upon everyone with goodness and peace. And greetings to all

minorities who remain steadfast in their roots, regions, and principles, with their peacefulness and harmonious integration within their surrounding environment, free from persecution, oppression, or marginalization by anyone.

Dear kinsfolk and sons... We recognize the endeavors and intentions of nations, and we are pursuing our historic right with open-minded countries concerned with the implementation of international resolutions,

upholding human rights, and enabling peoples to attain their rights—particularly their stances regarding the sectarian war of extermination we experienced in beloved Bashan... We extend our greetings to the State of Israel, government and people, and to all major powers that appreciate what we do and seek a resolution.

We will remain faithful to all who assist us, remembering them with gratitude...

Our beloved ones... With you, through your views, and in accordance with your demands and efforts, we will continue persevering with determination to claim our full rights and liberate our villages and our abductees, women and men. Therefore, patience, discipline, and trust are required of all of us, so that Bashan remains a pillar of stability for all, a shining pearl in the Middle East region, generous and towering through its people