Thousands of Alawites took to the streets across Syria’s coastal cities to protest against government-backed sectarian violence on November 25, a day after minority religious leaders called for a mass sit-in, Cradle newspaper reported on Tuesday.
The cities of Tartus, Latakia, Baniyas, Jaboulet and Homs were filled with protesters. People marched, shouted and held signs and slogans rejecting the continued violence against Alawites by Syrian government forces and allied militias.
Some held placards calling for “federalism”, echoing calls made by religious leaders the day before.
Local reports said Alawite protesters were shot and wounded by Syrian security forces in several cities, while others were detained and taken to unknown locations.
Some Christians also reportedly took part in the demonstration.
The protests were largely a response to large-scale attacks on Alawite civilians by government-backed tribal militias two days earlier. The attackers entered the al-Muhajireen district of Homs, attacking and setting fires to homes and shops, destroying cars, and firing indiscriminately at residents.
The attack left at least two people dead and dozens injured. The attack was said to be in retaliation for the recent killing of a couple from the Bani Khalid tribe in Homs province.
Anti-Sunni sectarian slogans were found written in blood on the walls, leading some to speculate that the killing was a false flag specifically aimed at escalating sectarian tensions.
Syria’s Interior Ministry also said there was no evidence of a sectarian crime, adding that it appeared to be an attempt at “incitement”.
The coastal protests came a day after Syrian Alawite religious leader Ghazal Ghazal called on people to take to the streets.
In March of this year, thousands of Alawite civilians were massacred by Syrian government forces during a violent crackdown to quell an armed uprising by members of the community.
Since then, the Alawite community has been disarmed by Damascus, leaving it vulnerable to sectarian attacks and serial killings.
Young Alawite girls continue to disappear due to government-linked kidnapping networks, and Alawite men are regularly executed.