Damascus, April 29, 2025 (Agencies) – At least four people were killed and six others injured in violent clashes near the Syrian capital, Damascus, after an audio recording allegedly insulting the Prophet Mohammed began circulating, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Tuesday.
The recording, which has not been independently verified, was reportedly attributed to a member of the Druze community, triggering outrage and sparking armed confrontations in the town of Jaramana. However, Syria’s Interior Ministry said preliminary investigations have yet to confirm the identity or religious affiliation of the speaker, adding that efforts are ongoing to determine the origin of the audio.
Eyewitnesses in Jaramana described scenes of chaos, with gunfire and rocket blasts echoing through the town throughout the morning. The clashes reportedly involved armed men from Jaramana—primarily members of the Druze community—and fighters from neighboring towns.
In response to the violence, security forces have sealed off Jaramana to prevent the arrival of additional armed groups and to restore calm.
The Druze community in Jaramana issued a statement condemning the audio as a “fabrication” intended to “incite sedition and sow division among the people of the same nation.” The statement also denounced what it described as an “unjustified armed attack” on the town.
The unrest comes amid Syria’s fragile transition following the ousting of longtime president Bashar al-Assad in December. The country’s new leadership has repeatedly called for national reconciliation and pledged to promote unity among Syria’s diverse ethnic and religious communities.
Syria’s Druze minority, which has traditionally remained neutral during previous conflicts, is primarily concentrated in the southern region of the country.
