The head of the Supreme Alawite Islamic Council in Syria and beyond, Sheikh Ghazal Ghazal, emphasized that there will be no compromise in achieving all demands, stating, “We seek only what is right and nothing else.”

He explained that the message concerning the right to self-determination through federalism and political decentralization, an end to the killings, and the release of thousands of civilian and military detainees has been delivered. 

Sheikh Ghazal described yesterday’s events, in reference to the repression of protests in several Syrian areas, as not an isolated incident, but as “the spark of a fire that will not be extinguished and the end of an era marked by silence and submission.”

He stressed that “any attack on the Alawite community will not go unanswered, but will be met with a flood and bare chests,” adding, “We will not accept a centralized Islamic political emirate that slaughters us based on our identity.”

What happened?

Since the fall of the Assad regime, minorities in Syria have faced repeated sectarian violence: Alawites in the Syrian coast faced widespread massacres in March, while Druze in Sweida saw their fair share of violence in June.

Two days ago, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that several demonstrators were injured as a result of the security forces’ crackdown on protests in Homs, Hama, and other areas along the Syrian coast, where people were demanding decentralization and the release of detainees.

Over the past week, large protests erupted in several Alawite-majority areas along Syria’s coast and in central provinces, notably Latakia, Tartus, Homs, and surrounding towns, after repeated attacks on Alawite neighbourhoods, abductions, and what protesters describe as widespread discrimination and sectarian violence.

The protests were called for by Sheikh Ghazal Ghazal, head of the Supreme Alawite Islamic Council, who urged peaceful sit‑in demonstrations to demand political decentralization, the release of detained Alawites, and an end to killings and humiliation targeting their community.

Despite the call for peaceful action, tensions escalated: security forces reportedly opened fire to disperse rallies in Latakia when Alawite demonstrators and pro-government counter‑protesters confronted each other. One protester was seen wounded, and gunfire, whether from security forces or unidentified assailants, increased fear among civilians.

In addition to protests on the coast, Alawite communities in Homs and other areas voiced deep alarm following recent violent attacks against Alawite‑majority neighborhoods.

Many locals say they feel abandoned by state authorities and exposed to threats of arbitrary detention, violence, and sectarian persecution. The current wave of demonstrations reflects a growing demand from Alawites for security, dignity, and political reforms in Syria’s new post‑regime landscape.