We live in constant fear’: Alawites in Syria’s Homs terrified of reprisals
In Syria’s Homs, Alawite residents live in constant fear of reprisals, as tensions escalate following the fall of the Assad regime. The once-diverse city, historically home to both Alawite and Sunni communities, has become a powder keg of uncertainty and violence. Security forces loyal to the new caretaker government are targeting groups still aligned with the deposed dictator Bashar al-Assad, leaving many Alawites, particularly those who once served in Assad's military and security apparatus, terrified of potential revenge attacks.
Outside the abandoned building of the Homs Political Security Directorate, a group of newly recruited armed guards debated fiercely about justice. Among them were Sado Junaid, whose family had suffered under the regime, and Mahmoud al-Bashar, who had been tortured in the same facility. As the group argued, some expressed a desire for vengeance, wanting to torture those responsible for the abuses they endured. One young recruit questioned whether suspects should be immediately handed over to the nascent justice system or tortured beforehand.
“I just want to meet one of them and torture them as they did to me,” said al-Bashar. Junaid, too, was filled with rage but wrestled with the idea of using violence, suggesting he only sought justice for those who had harmed his family. Yet, like others in Homs, he struggled with the uncertainty of whom to trust in the present climate of fear and shifting allegiances.
Homs, once the heart of the Syrian uprising against Assad, has witnessed increased instability since the regime's fall. Residents speak of raids by security forces targeting Alawites, while Sunni militants increasingly take matters into their own hands. Alawites now live in constant fear of attack, some even whispering about the kidnappings and violence that seem to target their sect.
Despite his own trauma, Junaid insists that Alawites who have committed no crimes should be able to live peacefully, as long as they avoid any association with sleeper cells. But his words reflect the growing divide between Alawites and Sunnis in the city, with each side blaming the other for the violence that continues to tear at the fabric of Homs.
For those like Abu Mohammed, a former three-star captain in Assad's army, the sense of fear and abandonment is overwhelming. Since the regime’s downfall, he has scarcely left his house, spending his days nervously following reports on social media about attacks on Alawite villages. Mohammed, like many Alawites, feels left behind by the high-ranking officers who fled or went into hiding, leaving ordinary soldiers and their families to navigate the dangerous uncertainty.
Some Alawites, such as Mohammed and his former colleague Mahmud Ibrahim, have tried to integrate into the new security forces, seeking to regain stability and a livelihood. However, despite their military backgrounds, they are reluctant to take menial jobs guarding buildings for low wages, feeling that their previous status deserves better.
The memories of the Assad regime's brutality remain vivid for Homs' residents. Many recall the vicious raids carried out by security services, made up primarily of Alawites, who targeted Sunni neighborhoods. The scars of the war are still visible across the city, with whole blocks destroyed by airstrikes and shelling. The name of Baba Amr, where Bashar al-Assad’s forces were especially ruthless, serves as a painful reminder of the widespread destruction.
Amid this chaos, there is the possibility that some of those responsible for the abuses during Assad’s rule are still lurking in the city. Although many high-ranking officials have fled, lower-ranking officers and security personnel remain in hiding, fearful of retribution.
Throughout the city, the presence of fighters from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the group that helped topple Assad, has only added to the tension. They stand guard at key intersections, sometimes positioned to separate Alawites and Sunnis in an attempt to prevent further violence. However, even as they promise to maintain peace, accusations persist that they are targeting Alawite homes and instigating fear.
Despite these efforts, trust is in short supply. Ibrahim and Mohammed, frustrated by their inability to protect their neighborhoods, attempted to establish a neighborhood watch. But Sunni forces blocked their attempts, leaving them feeling powerless and vulnerable.
In Homs, the question remains whether the new government will deliver true justice or allow the lingering divisions and violence to continue. As tensions rise, some Alawites fear that, if the situation doesn’t improve, they may call for the return of Assad or someone like him, hoping that his strong leadership might restore order to their fractured world.
For now, Homs is a city in limbo, where fear and uncertainty reign, and the ghosts of the past continue to haunt those who once believed in a better future.
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