Arrests based on identity spread from the Syrian coast to Damascus

Non-Syrian members of factions affiliated with the Ministries of Defense and Interior, both under the Damascus government, have set up temporary checkpoints in the Mezzeh area of Damascus and are interrogating civilians about their sectarian affiliation, a continuation of the spread of sectarian practices.

15 April, 2025 19:52

NEWS DESK

Sectarian practices against members of the Alawite sect continue to expand, extending beyond the Syrian coast to the capital, Damascus. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that non-Syrian members affiliated with the Ministries of Defense and Interior, under the Damascus government, are setting up a temporary checkpoint in the evening hours in Al-Huda Square in the Mezzeh area.

According to the SOHR, the members of the checkpoint inspect the IDs of passersby and ask direct questions about their sectarian affiliation. There are reports of arrests of Alawite civilians immediately upon verification of their identity.

These practices have sparked fear and anxiety among the Alawite community living in the area, with many young men avoiding going out at night for fear of being arrested or harassed because of their sectarian affiliation, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

T/S

ANHA