As sectarian tensions rise in Syria following the collapse of the Assad regime, a minority sect fears for its future amid requires mass slaughter.
The sensation is a brand new one for the Alawites, a bunch that was highly effective and influential throughout the dictator’s rule.
Deep anxiousness
The Alawites are a minority esoteric sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam. Between 10-12% of Syrians at the moment belong to the group.
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Though they had been “traditionally marginalised”, mentioned New Traces journal, they “gained important affect” after Assad’s rise to energy in 1970, transferring from “remoted mountain communities” to cities and “assuming a dominant function” in authorities and safety establishments.
They “dominated the ruling class and higher ranks of the army”, mentioned the New York Instances, however many insist that they had been additionally “oppressed” beneath the Assads and so they “deny that they had been a favoured class” pointing to “ramshackle properties” and low salaries as “proof” that they suffered.
Because the nation emerges from that dictatorship, the broader “cry for justice” and ambiance of reckoning has left the Alawite group with “a deep sense of hysteria”. They’ve repeated “like a mantra” that they “want the identical issues: security and safety”.
Their fears are justified as a result of extremist factions have circulated requires mass violence towards Alawites, together with on the Telegram messaging service, the place tags and movies have circulated “advocating indiscriminate slaughter”, mentioned NLM. Based on the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights round 150 Alawites have been killed over the previous month.
“Ominously” some mentioned that if the brand new regime can not assure their security, they’ll “take issues into their very own arms to guard themselves”, and a few of those that had been armed throughout the civil conflict are “refusing to disarm” till they obtain ensures that they are going to be shielded from assaults.
Keep silent
The day after Assad’s downfall final month, Ahmed al-Shara, the Islamist chief of the rebels who overthrew the regime, despatched a consultant to al-Qardaha to fulfill with village leaders. The brand new interim authorities has additionally despatched forces to protect a checkpoint exterior the Alawite village.
However the Alawites need extra, calling for a blanket amnesty from retribution, to keep away from them being singled out. Officers throughout the new interim authorities mentioned it is “too early” for the Alawite group to be “dictating any phrases”, mentioned the NYT.
They “want to remain silent for a minimum of a yr and never make any calls for”, mentioned Ahmad Hilal, a lawyer who now heads the Palace of Justice. They “killed the prisoners within the prisons” and “confirmed us no mercy”. Now, “they’re speaking about nationalism and being a part of a nation” however “why didn’t they communicate up earlier than this?”
Nonetheless, some have not given up hope that this second could be unifying. Hassan G. Ahmad, an activist, advised France 24 that Syria wants a authorities that “contains all components of society” describing himself as “not Muslim, Alawite, atheist, Sunni, or the rest”, however “Syrian, above all”.
