Wave of Kidnappings Targets Christians and Alawites Across Syria Amid Government Denial
Wave of Kidnappings Targets Christians and Alawites Across Syria Amid Government Denial
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A surge in kidnappings and violent attacks targeting members of Syria’s Christian and Alawite communities has triggered fear and outrage nationwide, even as the government continues to emphasize themes of “national unity” and “social solidarity.”
According to SyriacPress, the escalation in violence follows Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s recent visit to Greek (Rûm) Orthodox Patriarch John X Yaziji, a move widely viewed as an attempt to promote intercommunal harmony. Instead, several Christian-majority regions have seen new waves of crime and insecurity.
In Homs Province, truck driver Nabil Najjar was ambushed Monday by three unidentified men who stole his vehicle loaded with olives, his phone, and money before abandoning him near Sadad town. In Hama’s countryside, there were two kidnapping attempts last weekend — one targeting jeweler Mazen Sankari, and another involving a 15-year-old boy from Mhardeh.
Alawite communities have also been affected, with numerous families still searching for daughters who vanished months ago. A recent government report has further inflamed tensions by labeling most disappearances in the coastal regions as “voluntary elopements,” “false claims,” or “domestic disputes.”
The report recognized only one confirmed kidnapping, despite independent data suggesting far higher figures. Amnesty International previously documented at least 36 abductions of Alawite women and girls aged 3 to 40 in Latakia, Tartus, Homs, and Hama, criticizing Syrian authorities for failing to investigate seriously.
Human rights groups have condemned the official stance as a “denial of victims’ suffering” and an attempt to shield security forces from accountability.
As official denials persist and incidents rise, observers warn that Syria’s fragile social cohesion risks further erosion, with vulnerable minority communities left increasingly exposed.
