Concerns Rise for Alawite Communities in Syria
In the aftermath of the regime’s downfall, reports this week detail at least 33 incidents of bravery shown by members of Syria’s Alawite Muslim minority during broad daylight.
The Alawites represent a branch of Shia Islam, making up roughly 10% of Syria’s population. Previously, they held a significant position within the government under Bashar Assad, who himself was Alawite. Meanwhile, around 75% of the population are Sunni Muslims from various ethnic backgrounds.
The Alawite community, long privileged in the Assad regime, faces deep resentment from many Syrians. Bashar Assad’s father, Hafez, came to power through a coup in 1970, ending a coalition of opposing Muslim groups.
With the regime’s collapse, Alawites now worry about potential reprisals and violence against them. Reports of assaults and murders have surfaced, allegedly involving jihadist groups that once supported the regime.
Ahmed Al-Shara, a former member of both al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, expressed concerns that violence against government forces in Latakia, where many Alawites reside, stemmed from Assad’s backers.
Sharaa’s government, perceived as a stabilizing force by the West, faces accusations of genocide towards the Alawite community. Though some perpetrators have been arrested, much harm has already occurred. Survivors recount harrowing tales of families slaughtered in their homes, while many fleeing Alawites have sought refuge in Lebanon. Jihadist groups have issued threats against other communities, including Christians and Druze.
Although the sectarian violence has escalated, particularly following the genocide in March, many observers remain skeptical about Sharaa’s ability to control the jihad militias that contributed to Assad’s downfall. Recent attacks, including suicide bombings last Sunday at a Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus, evoke memories of ethnic cleansing.
Human rights organizations have started investigating, but incidents involving Alawite women are largely unnoticed by international media. Reports of women’s abductions date back to April, with victims detailing instances of assault and torture due to their Alawite identity. Some women were taken to a central location where they were restrained and detained together.
Yamen Hussein, a Syrian human rights defender, reported that abductions have escalated, particularly following the March violence. Alawite women are now commonly targeted, yet the identities of the assailants remain mostly unknown, and police inaction seems prevalent.
The stories shared with Reuters by survivors highlight the horror of these abductions. Many women were purportedly allowed to contact family members to negotiate ransoms. Despite payments that sometimes totaled thousands of dollars, few ever returned home alive, with threats silencing many families from alerting authorities.
One family learned from an assailant that their daughter, Abeer Suleiman, was unlikely to return after they paid a $15,000 ransom through an unknown intermediary.
Desperate to recover their loved ones, families turned to friends for loans, sometimes resorting to banks across borders for help. However, communication often ceased after the demands were met, and some survivors recounted being forcibly removed from the country during calls with their families.
Most abductions occurred in violent daytime grabs, though some victims reported being drugged and held in undisclosed locations. Younger girls were taken on their way to school, while others were targeted during simple errands.
There are fears that some of the missing women may be sold into slavery, as seen in past tragedies involving the Islamic State and the Yazidi community. Some believe that current assailants may be associated with remnants of the Islamic State, seeking financial gain.
Syrian officials maintain a dismissive stance regarding these abductions, casting doubt on the truthfulness of the Alawite community’s claims.
The Syrian Center for Justice and Accountability, a human rights group based in Washington, called on the Syrian government for action in May. They highlighted ongoing persecution against Alawites, despite promises of protection from the government, which included complaints of mob-style attacks and abductions.
They emphasized the need for accountability and a thorough investigation into these violations, particularly concerning the Alawite residents of Homs.
