Clerical leader issues alarm over intensifying religious disruptions in Syria
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Sound the alarm, my friends, for discord's beginning is known, but its ending remains a mystery. That's right; Syria's top religious figure, Osama al-Rifai, recently warned about discord on his official Facebook page. He cautioned that if it spreads, it could be disastrous for everyone, as the country has seen a return of sectarian violence.
The return of sectarian violence comes after the March crisis between the new Damascus authorities and armed men from the Alawite minority. As a refresher, the deposed President, Bashar al-Assad, is an Alawite himself. Now, the Grand Mufti, who was appointed by the current interim President, Ahmed al-Charaa, after al-Assad abolished the post in 2021, warned about the dangers of discord.
Let's take a step back to remember the history of sectarian violence in Syria. While it's woven into political repression, regional geopolitics, and identity-based tensions, spreading across decades of conflict, a few significant moments stand out:
- Early Islamist Uprising (1976–1982): During this time, the neo-Ba'athist government under Hafez al-Assad faced an insurgency led by the Muslim Brotherhood and the Fighting Vanguard, aiming to overthrow the secular regime and establish an Islamic state. This conflict was marked by targeted assassinations of Ba'ath Party officials, Soviet advisors, and military personnel, as well as the 1982 Hama massacre, in which government forces killed over 40,000 civilians to crush the rebellion.
- Sectarian Dynamics in the Syrian Civil War (2011-present): The 2011 uprising against Bashar al-Assad deepened sectarian divides, with regime tactics that framed the opposition as Sunni extremists being a key factor. Government forces used brutal tactics like sieges and chemical weapons to suppress dissent, while opposition groups adopted increasingly sectarian rhetoric. Regional powers also played a role, backing Sunni rebels or the Alawite-led regime, further deepening communal fault lines.
Presently, the communities of the Druze minority, an Arab religious group with origins in Islam but who do not identify as Muslim, are found in countries like Israel, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. While they make up only 3% of Syria's population, they've remained cautious in sectarian conflicts, often prioritizing communal survival.
Although the Druze have largely managed to avoid direct confrontation with the regime, recent violence in places like Latakia and Tartus has seen pro-Assad Alawite militias clash with revolutionary forces, resulting in over 1,000 deaths, mostly Alawite civilians. While this may suggest a growing role for the Druze, analysts believe that Sunni-Alawite clashes still dominate the conflict.
The current violence in Syria, driven by authoritarian rule, external interference, and economic collapse, continue to perpetuate sectarian divides, despite the attempts by some communities, like the Druze, to stay neutral. As we continue to witness these conflicts play out, it's essential to bear in mind the complex history of sectarian strife in Syria and work towards promoting peace and unity in the region.
- The Syrian Grand Mufti, appointed by the interim President, recently warned about the dangers of spreading discord on his official Facebook page, citing the disastrous consequences it could have on the world.
- The world has seen an added layer of complexity in the ongoing Syrian crisis, as the return of sectarian violence in the country has dominated recent general news headlines.
- The warn-and-conflicts-stricken region of Syria continues to witness the repression of various communities, even months after the March crisis between the new Damascus authorities and the Alawite minority.
- The Syrian provision of a religious figure's warning on discord serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for peace and unity, a theme that has persisted in Syrian politics and general news reports for years.
