In Germany and the Netherlands, hundreds of radical Syrian migrants have been showing support for the new regime in Syria and the violence against minorities in that country.
In the German cities of Berlin and Düsseldorf, Syrians took to the streets to celebrate the violence against the Druze in Syria’s Druze-majority Suwayda region. There, humanitarian groups reported mass killings, village burnings, abductions and summary executions of minorities, including Druze and Alawites.
A Druze spiritual leader described it as a “genocidal campaign.”
Around 400 people gathered on July 19 outside Berlin’s city hall, waving Syrian flags and chanting slogans, including “Today we liberate Suwayda. And we will bend the Druze”, news outlet Junge Freiheit reported.
Protestors also chanted against Christians, Alawites and Israelis, and there were reportedly open calls for rape, according to democ e. V., a Berlin-based non-profit that monitors so-called anti-democratic movements.
300–400 Anhänger des syrischen Machthabers Ahmed al-Scharaa (auch: al-Jolani) versammelten sich am Samstag, 19. Juli 2025, vor dem Roten Rathaus in Berlin. Sie skandierten u. a. Parolen gegen Israel, Drusen und Alawiten – darunter auch offene Aufrufe zu Mord und Vergewaltigung. pic.twitter.com/CzvCwUd0z8
— democ (@democ_de) July 22, 2025
The same was true in Düsseldorf, where around 300 people showed up on July 19 in support of the new regime in Syria and its handling of the Druze minority.
Later, heavy riots broke out between them and Kurdish demonstrators. Five police officers were wounded in the violence, according to news outlet Euronews.
Germany’s Kurdish community warned for Islamists and ultra-nationalists in the Arab and Turkish diaspora, who are often openly hostile to Kurds.
TikTok footage emerged of Syrians showing scissors gestures, symbolising the cutting of Druze men’s facial hair — interpreted as glorifying sectarian violence.
In the Netherlands, similar protests were also planned, Dutch Middle East journalist Harald Doornbos warned.
On Sunday, July 27, Syrian migrants plan to demonstrate in the city of Zwolle, showing “solidarity with the Syrian government” and “against collaborators of the SDF and al-Hijiri (Kurds and Druze)”, he said on X.
Doornbos added that the protest probably would not face issues, as “the new Syrian authorities are allies of the West and supported by ‘us'”.
Earlier, a Syrian individual, known as Abu Talaq, who reportedly holds a residence permit in the Netherlands, was documented posing with heavy weapons in Suweida, Syria, while making threats against the Druze minority.
He claimed he was not afraid to lose his nationality and said he went to Syria to help defend his tribe, family and people.
The young man was already known on Instagram, having 386,000 followers on the site.
It led to political debates in the Netherlands, with many claiming that videos such as his showed the integration of certain elements of society had failed.
Een Nederlands-Syriër poseert in Suwayda met een anti-tank wapen met een bericht aan de Druzen. Het is onduidelijk of hij ook daadwerkelijk heeft meegevochten. pic.twitter.com/uiEFCkLeub
— Wladimir van Wilgenburg (@vvanwilgenburg) July 20, 2025
