Syria’s police have imposed an overnight curfew in the city of Homs after demonstrations linked to pressure and violence against members of the minority Alawite Muslim community. The curfew, which started at 6pm local time on Wednesday and ended at 8am on Thursday, was reportedly imposed due to the recent clashes between Alawites and former regime forces.
Residents claim that the demonstrations were sparked by a circulated video showing a fire inside an Alawite shrine in Aleppo, with armed men posing near human bodies. The interior ministry has denied any involvement, stating that the violence occurred during the rebel offensive on Aleppo in late November and that the current circulating of the video aims to incite sectarian strife.
Small demonstrations also took place near Syria’s coast, including in Tartous, where most Alawites live. The new administration, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, has repeatedly vowed to protect minority religious groups from potential persecution under a conservative Islamist government.
The situation remains tense as the country’s leaders struggle to maintain stability amidst growing concerns over minority rights and the legacy of the Syrian regime.
Source: https://www.jpost.com/international/article-834885