A video showing an attack on an Alawite shrine has sparked widespread protests across Syria, with demonstrators demanding justice for the victims and calling for accountability from those responsible.
The protests, which began in Homs city, have spread to other areas, including Tartus province, where thousands of people took to the streets. The demonstrations are the largest by the Alawites since the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad earlier this month.
The video, which shows an attack on an Alawite shrine in Aleppo, has been circulating online and has sparked outrage among Syrians. The Observatory, a Britain-based war monitor, reported that one demonstrator was killed and five others wounded in Homs city after security forces opened fire to disperse the crowd.
Protesters have also taken to the streets in Tartus and Latakia, as well as other areas, including Assad’s hometown of Qardaha. Witnesses confirmed that demonstrations broke out in these cities, with some estimating the number of protesters to be in the thousands.
Syria’s new Islamist rulers have sought to assure religious and ethnic minorities that their rights will be upheld. However, the protests highlight concerns about the treatment of minority groups under the new regime.
The transitional authorities appointed by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) said that the shrine attack was not recent and that the footage showing the attack is “old”. However, many Syrians are skeptical of this claim and are demanding justice for those responsible.
State news agency SANA reported that police in central Homs imposed a curfew from 6:00 pm to 8:00 am on Thursday. Local authorities in Jableh also announced a nighttime curfew.
As the protests continue, calls for calm have been made by some Syrians and experts. However, many are warning that too much pressure on the Alawite community risks an explosion.
Source: https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2024/12/syrians-protest-after-video-attack-alawite-shrine