Continued violence against Alawites prompts calls for protection in Syria

In the context of ongoing sectarian violence, the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Syria has raised serious concerns regarding the treatment of the Alawite sect in the country. Despite the optimistic commitments made by the new Syrian government to safeguard minority rights, members of the Alawite community have continued to face violence, including killings and arbitrary arrests. Paulo Pinheiro, the head of the Commission, reported these findings during a meeting of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva, emphasizing the need for immediate action to address the sectarian tensions that have re-emerged following the ousting of former President Bashar Assad. Recent months have seen disturbing reports of ongoing killings and property confiscation targeting those who fled violence on the Syrian coast, particularly evident during a period of escalating revenge attacks linked to pro-Assad groups and new government security forces. Notably, the commission documented alarming incidents, including the abduction of at least six Alawite women, amplifying concerns over safety and security for this minority group. Further exacerbating the situation was a suicide bombing attack at a church outside Damascus, which resulted in significant casualties and highlighted the urgent need for ensuring the protection of places of worship across the country. Pinheiro stressed that the current government must implement more sophisticated protective measures for these sites, indicating that the authorities are responsible for holding accountable the perpetrators of such inflammatory acts. The U.N. Commission has recognized the interim government's partial progress in investigating these serious violations by forming a body meant to address the attacks on the coast. However, continued violence indicates that more substantial reforms and vetting processes are necessary as former rebel factions integrate into a new army and security apparatus. The presence of entrenched cycles of violence and revenge complicates the current socio-political landscape, further necessitating concrete policies aimed at fostering dialogue and reducing sectarian divides in Syria.