Sectarian Tensions Erupt in Jaramana After Fake Audio Sparks Deadly Clashes
A fabricated audio clip insulting the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, falsely attributed to a Druze sheikh, ignites armed clashes in southern Damascus, leaving over a dozen dead.
Watan–In a dangerous scene reviving sectarian tensions, the city of Jaramana, south of Damascus, turned into a battleground after the circulation of a fabricated audio clip insulting the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, falsely attributed to Druze Sheikh Marwan Kiwan. The audio spread like wildfire, sparking widespread outrage on the streets of Damascus that quickly escalated into armed clashes.
Within hours, neighborhoods were ablaze with violence, leaving at least 12 people dead, including members of Syrian General Security, in addition to a number of injured. The official narrative sought to contain the situation through a statement from the Syrian Ministry of Interior, which vowed to pursue all those inciting sedition and promoting sectarian hatred.
For his part, Sheikh Marwan Kiwan issued an official statement confirming that the audio was completely fabricated and intended to sow discord between Muslims and Druze during a politically and security-sensitive moment. He called for people not to fall into the trap of division and emphasized the need for social cohesion.
Attention turned to those who stood to benefit from the unrest. Local sources pointed fingers at remnants of the Assad regime, suggesting that elements loyal to it were behind the spread of the audio as a way to undermine relative stability in parts of southern Syria.
Security forces imposed a tight cordon around flashpoint areas, particularly near places of worship. Prominent Druze leaders, including Youssef Jarbou’ and Hikmat al-Hijri, issued statements urging restraint and rejecting calls to violence.
Meanwhile, activists expressed deep concern that this incident could be the beginning of a larger wave of sectarian conflict being orchestrated behind the scenes, especially in light of the authorities’ silence regarding the source of the fake recording.
Between a fabricated narrative and the spilling of blood, the truth remains a casualty in a relentless media war—where tools of sectarian strife are weaponized to recreate chaos.
