Reports from Syria’s Suweida province indicate that a second Druze religious figure has died after being detained by the National Guard militia, days after the death of Sheikh Raed al-Mutni in similar circumstances.
Local outlets and activists say Maher Falhout died shortly after surrendering himself to the faction, though The New Arab could not independently verify the claim.
Al-Mutni died less than two days after his arrest last week. Video circulated online appeared to show National Guard members beating him during his detention, and his body was later taken to Suweida National Hospital.
Syria TV, citing local sources, reported that he had been subjected to severe physical assault following a raid on the house where he was staying.
Syria TV also published broader allegations about the treatment of detainees inside National Guard facilities, including reports of beatings, prolonged suspension, food and sleep deprivation, psychological pressure, and the transfer of detainees to undisclosed locations.
Several detainees were said to have disappeared after being moved out of the facilities.
Al-Mutni’s death has intensified local tensions partly because he was accused by his opponents of maintaining ties with figures associated with the former Syrian government - an allegation he reportedly denied.
In the political landscape that has emerged since the end of the Assad era, such accusations carry significant weight, dividing clerics and community leaders over Suweida’s position within the transitional authorities.
Falhout, described in local reporting as being close to al-Mutni, allegedly surrendered himself to the National Guard two days before his death.
According to an Anadolu Agency report citing local sources, Falhout was one of "two Druze clerics" who died after two days of detention by the faction. Activists and local media in Suweida have also claimed that Falhout’s body was taken to Suweida National Hospital in circumstances similar to al-Mutni’s.
These accounts could not be independently verified, and no official authority has confirmed his death. The National Guard has not commented publicly on the allegations.
The two reported deaths come against a backdrop of heightened instability in Suweida. A ceasefire agreed on 19 July paused weeks of heavy clashes between Druze factions and government-linked Bedouin tribes that left hundreds dead.
Although the truce has largely held, the Syrian government has said there have been multiple violations attributed to supporters of Hikmat al-Hijri, including attacks on security and army personnel. These incidents have deepened mistrust and fuelled fears of a broader breakdown in the province.
The broader political environment in Suweida remains fractured. The region has long maintained a distinct relationship with central authority, and the transition away from Assad-era structures has intensified internal divisions.
Rival clerics, armed groups, community notables, and smuggling networks all compete for influence, with no single actor exercising full control.
The National Guard, aligned with al-Hijri, has emerged as one of the most powerful factions. Critics accuse it of operating as an unaccountable parallel security structure—detaining rivals, enforcing loyalty, and using coercion to consolidate its influence. Supporters argue it fills a security vacuum at a time when state institutions remain weak.
Al-Mutni’s opposition to the creation of the National Guard, combined with accusations about his political associations, placed him in a vulnerable position within this landscape. His violent death—and the unverified claims surrounding Falhout—have deepened concerns about a widening campaign of intimidation targeting Druze clerics and community figures seen as dissenters or obstacles to the militia’s rise.
Residents report a growing sense of fear in Suweida, with new checkpoints, militia patrols, and sporadic clashes contributing to instability. Activists warn that allegations of torture, disappearances and extrajudicial killings risk pushing the province into deeper unrest.
No independent human rights organisation has yet commented publicly on the latest allegations.