Sectarian Violence in Syria: Alawites and Christians Targeted Amid Political Upheaval and Rising Persecution

In a grim reminder of sectarian violence in the Middle East, over a thousand Alawites were killed earlier this month in violent attacks in Latakia, Syria, attributed to extremist Sunni Muslim militias, Asia Times reported. The Alawites, a religious minority closely associated with the ousted regime of Bashar al-Assad, faced brutal reprisals following his removal from power in December after a protracted civil war. Additionally, at least four Christians were killed during the attacks, highlighting the precarious situation for religious minorities in the region.

The Alawite community, numbering around 1.7 million, has been particularly vulnerable due to their historical ties to al-Assad’s regime, where approximately 80% held government positions. The recent violence has been fueled by radical Sunni groups that view Alawites and Christians as heretics. This sentiment has been exacerbated by extremist ideologies propagated by organizations like al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, which have consistently targeted these communities.

Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former leader of the Al-Nusra Front, has now emerged as Syria’s new leader. He has publicly condemned the recent attacks on Alawites, stating that “Syria is a state of law” and promising accountability for any unjust bloodshed. Al-Sharaa’s administration has sought to reassure both Alawite and Christian communities about their safety and rights, emphasizing a vision of a pluralistic Syria.

In 2013, Nusra gunmen reportedly executed at least 16 Alawites in a village east of the city of Homs, including seven women and four children. Al-Shararaa, then operating under his code name Abu Muhammed al-Jolani, called for all-out attacks on Alawite communities. “There is no choice but to escalate the battle and to target Alawite towns and villages in Latakia,” he said.

Nusra was also involved in the killings of Christians in the village of Jisr al-Shughour and executed a Christian couple for being agents of al-Assad. Masses of Christian communities fled into Turkey.

Eventually, al-Sharaa and his Nusra Front broke their alliance with the Islamic State in Iraq and later with al-Qaeda. He formed, with other militias, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, the “Organization for the Liberation of the Levant.”

Despite recent reassurances from the Interim Government, the situation remains dire. Since the attacks, nearly 13,000 Syrians have fled to Lebanon, seeking refuge from the violence. The number of Christians in Syria has drastically declined from 1.5 million in 2012 to approximately 300,000 today, as many have sought safety abroad due to increasing persecution.

The United Nations has called for urgent action to protect all Syrians, regardless of their religious or ethnic backgrounds. However, the future of Alawites and Christians in Syria remains uncertain, as sectarian tensions continue to simmer in the aftermath of al-Assad’s fall.