Alawite Council rejects gov. probe results, warns of Syrian divide

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
26 Jul 2025 05:21

Sheikh Ghazal Ghazal, head of Syria’s Higher Alawite Islamic Council, accuses extremist groups of targeting minorities and urges a decentralized political solution to protect Syria’s unity.

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Syrian security forces inspect vehicles at a checkpoint, following a recent wave of violence between Syrian security forces and gunmen, as well as subsequent sectarian attacks, in Latakia, in Syria's coastal region, on March 11, 2025. (AP)

The head of Syria’s Higher Alawite Islamic Council, Sheikh Ghazal Ghazal, condemned the "terrorist network" that aims to dismantle Syrian society and justify violence under the guise of religious legitimacy.

In a recorded statement, Sheikh Ghazal strongly rejected the role of international human rights investigation committees, describing them as “tools to whitewash crimes and shield the perpetrators.”

“They mixed truth with falsehood and cloaked injustice in the guise of justice in a desperate attempt to mislead public opinion and obscure the truth,” he stated.

Alawite-Druze solidarity amid mounting threats

Sheikh Ghazal drew parallels between recent attacks on the Druze community and atrocities committed against the Alawites, accusing Syria's de facto authorities of repeating such crimes under the pretext that minorities are affiliated with the former regime.

He called for urgent international action, including the formation of independent investigative bodies to probe the violations against civilians in Sweida and beyond.

Call for political overhaul, unity

Warning that the current crisis risks further fragmentation, Sheikh Ghazal advocated for a decentralized or federal system rooted in a consensus-based constitution that guarantees rights for all Syrian components.

He also called for the release of detainees and accountability for those responsible for war crimes and repression. “The fate of the Alawite community is inseparable from the fate of Syria as a whole,” Sheikh Ghazal stressed, urging unity in the face of foreign-backed schemes to divide the country.

He concluded by calling on the international community to apply meaningful pressure in support of a just and inclusive political resolution that upholds justice and dignity for all Syrians.