Syrians are set to vote in the first parliamentary elections since the fall of the Assad regime. The vote is seen by many as a stress test for the country's cohesion and President Ahmad al-Sharaa's commitment to the rights of religious minorities and women.

Damascus

Syria is conducting its first parliamentary vote since the end of the Assad regime, with the new government under President Ahmed al-Shara'a receiving international recognition but struggling to gain widespread domestic support. The government, which is rooted in Islamist principles, has failed to unite Syria's diverse population, with significant portions of the country, including Kurdish-held regions, remaining outside of full state control.

Recent months have seen a series of violent incidents, including sectarian clashes in Suwayda, a suicide bombing at a Damascus church, and attacks on the Alawite minority, resulting in hundreds of deaths. Critics argue that ongoing insecurity and lack of representation undermine the legitimacy of the new parliament and pose significant obstacles to establishing a fair democracy in Syria.

Post-Assad Syria faces stress test with first parliamentary vote

More than nine months after the fall of the Assad dictatorship, the new leadership in Damascus has gained growing international recognition. But back home, President Ahmed al-Shara'a and his government face a crisis of legitimacy. Some do support the government's Islamist-based rule. Our new government is primarily based on religion, morals and fundamental values. So it does not matter if women are represented in the parliament or not. I trust them. But the government has failed to unite all of Syria's diverse society, particularly struggling to gain the support of those with other religious and ethnic backgrounds. At the moment, one-third of the country remains outside of full state control, including the Kurdish-held east. In Qamishli, Kurds who fought Islamist extremists during the war are wary of a state whose institutions now include former members of those same groups. To gain trust, you need to establish security and political stability. In Syria, there's neither. All that the rulers in Damascus have done so far has not been representative of the views of the Syrian population as a whole. Multiple incidents have shaken confidence in the state. In July, sectarian violence erupted in Suwayda, after clashes between pro-government Sunni Bedouin tribes, state forces and Druze factions. Nearly 600 people were killed, including the documented massacres of Druze civilians. In June, a suicide bombing at a church in Damascus killed 24 Christians. Authorities said the attack was carried out by the Islamic State. Other attacks targeted the Alawite minority in Syria's coastal region. Reuters investigation found government-linked fighters were involved. More than 1,500 people were killed. My three brothers were killed in the first hours of the massacre. There's no justice in this country. There's no rule of law. When there's no rules and citizens' lives are not protected, in these circumstances, it's pointless to form a parliament. Critics warn that until all Syrians can feel safe and represented in state institutions, there's too many obstacles in the path of a true and fair democracy. For more UN videos visit www.un.org

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Breakdown