Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al-Quds Governorate: Today, the spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque began in a public and dangerous manner, and we warn of a religious war in the region
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: This brings the total number of victims of famine and malnutrition to 175, including 93 children
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: Gaza's hospitals recorded six deaths due to starvation and malnutrition in the past 24 hours, all of them adults
Informed sources to Al Mayadeen: A new chapter in relations between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency will begin within the framework of the new law passed by Parliament
Informed sources to Al Mayadeen: The talks will focus on the political aspect, and the agency's delegation will not be accompanied by any inspector
Informed sources to Al Mayadeen: An IAEA delegation will visit Tehran next week to discuss mechanisms for implementing the parliament's law suspending cooperation with the agency
Palestinian media: Herds of Israeli settlers storm the al-Aqsa Mosque and perform Talmudic rituals in it
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: 15 martyrs were transferred to hospitals in the Gaza Strip in the past few hours as the Israeli occupation continues its aggression on the camps of the displaced
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: 38 were killed since dawn on Saturday, as the Israeli occupation army targeted aid seekers at distribution sites
Palestinian Red Crescent: One martyr, several injuries among our teams after the occupation bombed the association's headquarters in al-Amal neighborhood, west of Khan Younis.

French group sues Syria's al-Sharaa, ministers, for Alawite massacres

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Al Mayadeen
  • 11 Apr 2025 23:46
4 Min Read

The French-Alawite Collective has filed an unprecedented lawsuit against Ahmad al-Sharaa and a number of his ministers, citing the massacres in Syria's coast.

Listen
  • x
  • Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, looks on during a joint press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the presidential palace in Ankara, Turkey, Feb. 4, 2025. (AP)
    Syria's interim President, Ahmad al-Sharaa, looks on during a joint press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the presidential palace in Ankara, Turkey, Feb. 4, 2025 (AP)

The Paris Public Prosecutor's Office has agreed to receive a legal complaint filed against Syria’s transitional leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, and several of his ministers, on charges such as genocide, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity.

The lawsuit, submitted by the French-Alawite Collective (collectif CFA) and obtained by Al Mayadeen, accuses al-Sharaa and a number of his ministers of committing crimes against humanity, particularly those against the Alawite community in Syria, referring to the massacres that took place between December 2024 and March 2025.

The lawsuit names al-Sharaa, Defense Minister Marhaf Abu Qasra, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, Interior Minister Anas Khattab, and the commander of the 25th Division of the Syrian military, Mohammad al-Jassem.

According to the statement issued by the CFA, "attacks carried out by units of the New Syrian Army (25th Division), the General Security Directorate, and pro-government militias deliberately targeted Alawite civilians, along with certain Christian and Sunni families who tried to protect them."

The victims were subjected to direct and premeditated gunfire, and documented cases included the slaughter of civilians, including children, as well as acts of mutilation and desecration of corpses.

The statement added that “the attacks led to the deaths of thousands of civilians, including women, children, and elderly people, most of them from the Alawite community, under direct orders from al-Sharaa, who openly declared a general mobilization against the Alawite sect and willfully refrained from issuing any command to halt the massacres, despite being fully aware of their scope and brutality,” according to the collective.

While the exact death toll remains difficult to document due to mass graves and a large number of missing persons, estimates suggest that more than 30,000 civilians have been displaced to nearby forests and into Lebanon. Thousands more have taken refuge at the Russian-operated Hmeimim military base, with the number of displaced civilians there exceeding 10,000.

Related News

Renewed Druze, Bedouin clashes jeopardize Sweida ceasefire: SOHR

SDF asserts 'right to retaliate' against strikes near Deir Hafer

This lawsuit marks the first legal action of its kind in France against al-Sharaa. It coincides with a protest organized by the French-Alawite Collective scheduled for Saturday, outside the Palais de Justice in Paris, to mourn the victims of the attacks on Syria’s coastal cities.

Pro-government groups committed war crimes in the Syrian coast: Amnesty

Earlier in April, Amnesty International found that the events that unfolded in Syria's coastline area were "war crimes", holding Syrian interim government forces accountable for the massacres.

Amnesty International highlighted that pro-government militants killed over 100 people in the seaside city of Baniyas on March 8 and 9, 2025. The group investigated 32 incidents and determined that they were purposeful and targeted the Alawite minority.

Eyewitnesses informed Amnesty International that armed men asked victims if they were Alawites before threatening or murdering them.

In certain cases, they held them responsible for transgressions committed by the ousted regime. Authorities also compelled families to bury their loved ones in mass graves, with no religious or public rituals.

Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International's Secretary General, urged "accountability for those responsible for this horrifying wave of brutal mass killings."

Callamard added that the organization's information shows that "pro-government militias deliberately targeted Alawite civilians in horrific retaliatory attacks, executing individuals in cold blood," as the government did not interfere for two days to end the atrocities.

She underlined that the scale and method of these deaths constitute "war crime", adding that states are obligated to guarantee prompt, independent, effective, and impartial investigations into claims of illegal killings, as well as hold perpetrators accountable.

Read more: Gunmen in uniforms kill six, including child, in Syria's Tartus

  • Syria
  • Ahmad al-Sharaa
  • massacres in syria
  • Alawite
  • France
  • Massacre
  • Hayat Tahrir al-Sham

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
An explosion seen during an Iranian missile attack on Tel Aviv, Occupied Palestine, June 13, 2025 (AP)

If Iran is attacked again, geography of response may change: IRGC spox

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Starved, shot, bombed, 'Israel' finds no fault
Politics

'Israel' closes 88% of war crimes cases without charges: Watchdog

Alex Karp, CEO of the software firm Palantir Technologies, arrives as then Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, convenes a closed-door gathering of leading tech CEOs, Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 (AP)
Technology

Notorious Palantir lands record $10bln contract with the US Army

‘March for humanity’: Protesters brave rain for Gaza on Sydney bridge
Politics

‘March for humanity’: Protesters brave rain for Gaza on Sydney bridge

A Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighter stands in guard during a gathering to celebrate Nowruz, Kurdish New Year, in Qamishli, northeastern Syria, Friday March 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

SDF asserts 'right to retaliate' against strikes near Deir Hafer

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS