A new report indicates that the Syrian government downplays the abduction of Alawite women and girls, documenting at least 13 cases, five of which involved sexual assault. This comes amid rising tensions between the new government and the Alawite community following the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad.
Since the ousting of Assad in December 2024, the transitional government led by Ahmad al-Shahr has confirmed receiving only one report of an Alawite woman being abducted. However, an investigation by the New York Times has confirmed at least 13 abductions, with five victims reporting that they were raped during their captivity, and two returned home pregnant.
Details of the Incidents
These investigations support previous reports from Amnesty International, which stated last July that there were reliable reports of 36 similar abductions, in addition to a report from the Syrian women's lobby documenting the disappearance of 80 Alawite women and girls since the beginning of 2025. Some victims reported experiencing sectarian abuse, highlighting these abductions as retaliatory acts against the Alawite community, to which the Assad family belongs.
While others consider these incidents purely criminal in nature. The family of one woman who spoke to the New York Times reported that they paid $17,000 to the kidnappers, who did not release her. Meanwhile, another 24-year-old woman reported being held for three weeks in a filthy room where she was raped and beaten, had her hair and eyebrows shaved, and was cut with razor blades. She was released after her parents paid a ransom.
Background & Context
Tensions between the new government and the Alawite community have been escalating since the ousting of Assad. Last year, armed attacks on security forces by Assad loyalists in the coastal Alawite stronghold of Latakia led to brutal sectarian violence. At least 1,500 Alawites were killed in the subsequent violence, with investigations by Reuters tracing much of this violence back to security officials in Damascus.
The Deputy Minister of Interior, Nour al-Din Baba, stated to the New York Times that he could not respond to the investigation unless the newspaper provided the names of the individuals they spoke to, which the paper refused to do after promising them confidentiality.
Impact & Consequences
These events occur within the context of the ongoing Syrian civil war, which has lasted for 13 years, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands and the displacement of millions both internally and externally. This war began in 2011 after government forces opened fire on pro-democracy activists. While some Alawites initially supported the pro-democracy movement, a combination of government persecution and fears of armed sectarian groups among the opposition drove many in the Alawite community to support Assad.
With the ousting of the president and his flight to Moscow, calls from Alawites for protection from sectarian retaliatory attacks have increased. During a visit by al-Shahr to London, he faced protests from Alawites and thousands who accused him of facilitating "genocide" in Syria.
Regional Significance
These events highlight the increasing sectarian tensions in Syria and their impact on regional stability. The ongoing violence and abduction of Alawite women reflect the chaos and insecurity plaguing the country, potentially exacerbating humanitarian crises in the region.
In conclusion, the issue of the abduction of Alawite women in Syria remains one of the pressing humanitarian issues requiring urgent international attention, underscoring the need to protect civilians and ensure their rights under the current circumstances.