Alawite Notable calls for international protection

 Following the collapse of the Ba'ath regime on December 8th of last year and the subsequent takeover of governance by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), videos exposing abuses against Alawites in Syria's coastal regions have surfaced.

 In this context, Sheikh Wafiq Asaad Rajab, originally from Latakia, shed light on the violations being committed against the Alawite community in the coastal areas. He noted that members and elders of the Alawite sect have been calling for calm, patience, and giving HTS’s administration a chance to rein in lawless elements.

 "They are advocating for stability and for restraining rogue groups, but what we see on the ground is the opposite," Rajab stated. "The violations are extensive, involving killings and the burning of homes."

 He elaborated: “Individual acts of crime might involve isolated incidents like a home burglary or a single assassination. But what we are witnessing—convoys of dozens of vehicles raiding homes and attacking residents—goes beyond that. Who are these attackers affiliated with? HTS must put an end to these violations.”

 Rajab questioned how long the Alawite community could endure such humiliation, saying: "We are people of dignity and advocates of peace. We do not call for war, but we are also not advocates of surrender, and we refuse to accept degradation. If this government can ensure the safety of our people internally, that is what we hope for. However, if it cannot, we demand that international governments and organizations provide international protection for the Alawite community."

 Concluding his remarks, Sheikh Wafiq Asaad Rajab stressed the need for international organizations to recognize the fear and extensive violations plaguing Syria’s interior, leaving residents in a state of despair. He urged immediate relief for Syrians living inside the country, especially since the new administration has neither paid salaries nor provided any assistance to the population.

a.k

ANHA