What is happening in Syria? Allegations of Alawite massacres and missing professors: What does the Human Rights Observatory report say?

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Ahmed al-Shara, the leader of the new Syrian government formed under the leadership of HTS, has not made any statements to the press regarding the missing persons. The new government had previously denied allegations that Alawites were being killed in a 'systematic' manner, describing the incidents as 'isolated'.

Chaos continues in Syria following the fall of the Assad dictatorship. National and international press sources have reported that jihadist groups in Syria, which have been revealed to have had ties to Al-Qaeda in the past, are 'specifically' targeting Alawites and Syria's intellectuals.

According to reports, professors teaching at universities were rounded up from schools and taken away. While HTS does not have an 'official' security institution, the fate of the university professors collected from classrooms remains unknown.

The allegations emerged shortly after Assad was toppled on December 8, 2024. Videos of uncertain origin were shared on some social media accounts. In the shared footage, it was seen that professors were forcibly detained by armed individuals in military uniforms while they were teaching, and were taken away after being forced into vehicles.

Fehim Taştekin from Gazete Duvar reported that jihadist groups in Syria are 'carrying out a systematic massacre' against Alawites. According to Taştekin's statements, Alawite religious figures, Alawite villagers, and individuals alleged to have 'committed crimes' during the Assad era have been abducted. The bodies of some of the abducted people were found on roadsides. In his report, Taştekin also provided information that doctors, academics, and artists have been abducted.

President of the new Syrian government Ahmed al-Shara

MASSACRE REPORT BY INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATION

The Human Rights Observatory in Syria has confirmed the disappearance cases. On the other hand, reports noted that attacks against Alawites are continuing. HTS officials stated that the perpetrators of the incidents are unknown.

Meanwhile, it was alleged that a 'massacre' also took place in Homs during an operation conducted by the HTS Military Operations Administration 'targeting elements of the old regime'. According to the Human Rights Observatory's report, HTS members who raided some villages in Homs on January 13 attacked Alawites and Shiites. According to the Observatory, at least 35 people lost their lives in the attacks.

The Assad administration used to accuse the Human Rights Observatory in Syria of being 'close to opposition groups'.

News Source: 12punto