Amnesty Raises Alarm Over Abductions of Alawite Women in Syria

Amnesty Raises Alarm Over Abductions of Alawite Women in Syria
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Amnesty International has reported a series of abductions targeting Alawite women and girls in central and coastal Syria in recent months, raising concerns about growing fear and a lack of accountability.

The organization documented eight cases since February in the provinces of Latakia, Tartus, Homs, and Hama. Despite families alerting authorities, most incidents have gone uninvestigated, with some officials blaming victims’ families. Only two abductees have been safely released.

Amnesty Secretary-General Agnès Callamard described the kidnappings as alarming for the Alawite community, noting that many women now fear leaving home alone. She urged Syrian authorities to take concrete steps against gender-based violence and ensure thorough, impartial investigations.

Tensions escalated in March with three days of sectarian violence in Syria’s coastal region, reportedly killing around 1,700 people, mostly Alawites, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Syrian government acknowledged 1,426 deaths but denied claims of systematic or sectarian motives.