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Aleppo Shrine Attack Sparks Nationwide Uproar: Are Syria's Minorities Safe?

  


A shocking video made on December 25, 2024, showed an armed incursion into the Shiite Alawite shrine of Abu Abdullah Al-Hussein Al-Khasibi in Maisaloon district of Aleppo city. Speaking of the unfortunate attack, it, led to the gruesome shooting dead of five shrine attendants, their bodies mutilated and the shrine burnt. This event has raised concerns in the minds of the Syrian minority especially the ALawaite community due to they view the event as antithetical to the protection of their lives and the free practice of their religion.

The last President, Bashar al-Assad, belonged to such a sect as Alawite, which traditionally was in the shade, persecuted in Syria. Hathern one of their holiest place of worship has been violated in the recent past, sectarian tensions, and anger has risen, and the feeling of insecurity among the population is palpable. In return, wide civil protests started in several Syrian provinces including Latakia, Tartus, Homs describing the act as a barbaric act and the Syrian regime’s protection of religious minorities.

The conflict intensified with the fighting between the General National Security, forces and many other armed groups. Information shows that these have led to deadly crashe with two deaths of the security personnel and four others injured. The current hybrid regime that is dominated by the Islamite group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has been alleged to have cracked down on these protest demonstration under the pretext of hunting for lawlessness, thus fueling the population. Reading police crackdown and shut attempt to disperse demonstrators, many have perceived it as modern day suppression of individuals voices and freedom especially as regards to HTS as an organization.

Syrian minorities are feeling the pinch as more cases of human right abuses are being reported and human right organizations are concerned. HTS members alongside their foreign elements have been accused by the Alawite, Druze, as well as Christian individuals and communities of daily abuses. Examples of human rights violations are; violation of the right to freedom from arbitrary arrest, the right to the protection of the law and freedom of worship as property has been confiscated and worship places shut down with the aim of putting fear to any intending activist. Various organizations in the international society have urged the development of plans to safeguard these vulnerable persons to have equal consideration as others in case of continuous war.

The destruction of the Al-Khasibi shrine and the subsequent emerging violence is a vivid example that the issue of religious liberty in Syrian can be considered as acute. While the new supreme leadership in Iraq has promised to prevent any further loses to the minority in the country, evidence on the ground indicates that sectarian discrimination and violence will continue. The burning of a Christmas tree in the city of Suqaylabiyah which is Christian populated is a clear indication of the killings of religious symbols and a ever increasing hatred on non-sunni people.

Under these circumstances it is important for the transitional authorities to start doing active actions to protect the rights of all religious and ethnic human beings in Syria. These are aspects such as prosecution of those involved in sectarian conflicts, respect of the rights to worship and equal protection of the cultural diversity in the country. In about, the probability of a more serious destabilization of the situation and the protraction of civil strife would worsen and deter the attempts at the scenario of a stable long-term peace.

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