The Spread of Unregulated Weapons Increases the Threat to Syrian Universities

Syrian universities have recently witnessed a series of violent incidents, signaling the ongoing impact of the 14-year-long war within academic institutions. Observers warn that this presents the greatest challenge to universities since their establishment.

These incidents have negatively affected the educational mission of universities, with some institutions shifting from beacons of knowledge to arenas for settling scores—undermining the quality and regional and international standing of higher education.

At Damascus University, members of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities staged a protest last Sunday in condemnation of an attempted assassination targeting the Dean, Dr. Ali Al-Lahham, after armed individuals stormed the university campus and threw a hand grenade that failed to detonate.

Similarly, university professor Dr. Muslim Al-Youssef survived an assassination attempt last week in the city of Khan Shaykhun, southern Idlib countryside. These incidents coincided with reports of attacks on Druze students in Suwayda, highlighting the pervasiveness of violence and the broader impact of the country’s deteriorating situation on university campuses.

Observers and academics, including Dr. Taysir Al-Masri, Head of the Accounting Department at Damascus University, attribute the phenomenon to the spread of unregulated weapons and the absence of effective deterrent measures. They also point to a societal culture that weakens respect for the law and academic professionals. Continued violence, they warn, is prompting qualified academics to emigrate, resulting in a shortage of teaching staff and a decline in educational quality.

Following the incident involving the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Minister of Higher Education Marwan Al-Halabi expressed his “deep regret,” confirming that investigations are ongoing and that legal action will be taken against those responsible to ensure the protection of universities and their staff.

Academics—including Dr. Majdi Al-Jamous from the Faculty of Economics in Daraa and Dr. Abdulrahman Mohammad from Hama University—called for the restoration of academic culture, the enforcement of stricter penalties, the establishment of independent specialized security units within campuses, and the introduction of legislation that criminalizes violence against universities.

They warned that the continued presence of unregulated weapons and violence on campuses could lead to a mass exodus of academic talent, further erode international trust in Syrian university degrees, and strip institutions of their cultural and academic diversity.

They emphasized that protecting universities is an investment in Syria’s future and that a collective effort involving the government, academic institutions, and civil society is essential to confront this growing threat.