Protests erupt in Syria after clip about Alawite shrine attack surfaces: Humanitarian crisis in focus

Thousands of people recently took to the streets in numerous cities across Syria after a clip circulated online representing an attack on an Alawite shrine in the north, according to media reports. The deadly protests made global headlines.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) monitor said scores of people staged major demonstrations in the coastal cities of Latakia and Tartous. It also reported protests in the central city of Homs and Qardaha.

Deadly protests in Syria highlight humanitarian crisis?

People in the area at the time of the demonstrations said Tartous, Latakia and nearby Jableh noted serious protests. These area are at the heartland of the Alawite minority. Deposed long-time President Bashar al-Assad belongs to this group.

SOHR said the demonstrations erupted after a clip started circulating representing “an attack by fighters” on an important Alawite shrine in the Maysaloon district of the second-largest city of Syria. It said 5 people got killed.

The SOHR chief said the clip had been filmed earlier this month after opposition rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) launched an offensive, seized control of major cities at a rapid pace, and ousted former President al-Assad days later.

Does Alawite minority fear a possible backlash?

The Ministry of Interior of Syria said on its official Telegram account that the clip dated back to the rebel offensive last month and the violence had been carried out by unidentified groups, adding that the person circulating the clip possibly seeks to incite strife.

Long-time President Bashar al-Assad presented himself as a protector of minority groups. The Alawite minority fears a possible backlash against their community both as a minority group and because of the link they and al-Assad’s family share.

Syria’s current leaders are promising to protect minority religious groups. Just a day before the demonstrations erupted because of the clip, people protested in Christian areas of Damascus against the burning of a Christmas tree near central Syria’s Hama.

HTS designated as a terrorist organisation by UN, US

Syria’s current rulers, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebels, are facing a tough situation full of unrest and protests. The UN, the US and Russia have designated HTS as a terrorist organisation. It is made up mainly of groups from Jabhat al-Nusra, earlier linked to al-Qaeda.

Numerous campaigners, local monitors and media reports suggest that the group does not tolerate any form of dissent. There have also been reports of HTS rebels being behind the disappearances of campaigners and other major issues.

HTS asked to do more to protect minorities

Serious protests broke out in Syria recently due to the burning of a Christmas tree, prompting calls for the ruling Islamist authorities to take steps to protect minorities. Clips on social media represented a tree on fire in a Christian-majority city.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham said foreign fighters had been arrested over the incident. Later on, more protesters took to the streets, including in parts of Damascus. “Syria is free, non-Syrians should leave,” some protesters chanted.

Syria is home to many ethnic and religious groups, such as Christians, Alawite Shia, Kurds and Armenians. There are multiple armed groups in Syria, including some opposed to HTS, according to a report in BBC.

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