Ongoing attacks against Alawites in Syria

In view of the ongoing attacks against the Alawite people living along the Syrian Mediterranean coast, the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) in great concern. “There are still calls for the extermination of the minority group. The German government must use its diplomatic contacts to the Syrian leaders to exert pressure on the interim government. Germany and the entire international community must do everything possible to prevent a genocide of the Alawite people in Syria,” demanded Dr. Kamal Sido, the STP’s Middle East Consultant. “Germany is has a responsibility – because the Islamists who are in power today were also supported by Germany,” the human rights activist emphasized.

To call for an end to the violence in Syria, demonstrations will take place in Germany and other European countries.

Alevi organizations and associations are calling for a large demonstration in Cologne, on Saturday, March 15 – under the Motto “Stop the genocide of the Alawites in Syria!” The event will take place at Heumarkt, starting at 1 pm. The STP supports this event and other peaceful demonstrations, protests, and vigils the various Alevi organizations and associations have called for. Alawites and Alevis see themselves as companions in fate.

“The signing of the agreement between the new Islamist leaders in Damascus and the leaders of the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) was a maneuver of the Islamists in Damascus to divert attention from the massacres of the Alawites. In fact, the attacks against the Alawites in the west of the country continue – and Turkey is continuing its air raids against the Kurds as well, also with fighter drones,” the Middle East expert stated.

“A circulating draft for a constitution clearly shows that the new rulers in Syria have nothing to do with democracy or a rule of law. The draft constitution is not much different from the constitution of the Assad era – on the contrary: it emphasizes the principles of the Islamic Sharia and does not even mention the Kurdish or the Aramean language, although there are millions of people in Syria who speak these languages. Under such a constitution, the Yazidis will not be able to practice their faith freely – as it grants, albeit with reservations, freedom of religion only to religions of the book. This includes Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, but not Yazidism,” Sido said.