Syrian minority in the Netherlands fears Lot of family members in the home country after murder parties

The fear is almost tangible, Saturday afternoon on the stairs for the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Around two hundred people are there together to demonstrate against the murders that focused partly on Alawitic minorities in the Syrian coastal region last week. Christians were also targeted. Hundreds of civilian casualties probably fell.

The violence began when supporters of the expelled dictator Assad in Latakia revolted against the new Syrian regime. Assad himself was aleawitic and the recent violence provoked a violent response against the entire population group. Syria has a Sunni majority but was run by the Alawitic Assadists, who liked to play divide and rules.

There is « we ask -only peace » and « Together Against Extremism and Terrorism ». When photographing, demonstrators sometimes place their protest signs in front of their faces. Others wear hats, sunglasses and scarves to hide their faces. Protesters hand out roses together and film the protest with their phones.

While those present listen to speeches in Dutch, English and Arabic, it suddenly derails. A counter -demonstrator films the protesters, who are in a circle, and shouts in his phone « Liars, liars! ». A fight arises, after which the police intervene. The demonstrators scream and channel while the man is removed by the police: « Terrorist, terrorist! ».

Many protesters fear that if they are recognized on video images, they will endanger their families in Syria. The demonstrators emphasize nothing to have to do with Assad, but given their ethnic background to fear the safety of their family members. Many therefore prefer not to give their name for fear of reprisals.

According to a spokesperson for the organization of the Protest Committee Against Ethnic Cleansing in Syria, ethnic minorities were also victims among Assad. « We were also suppressed, had to enter the army or prison. If we were not loyal, we would be executed. « 

Voice raise

According to 33-year-old Ali, Syrian minorities feel « not heard. » He is an Alawitic Turk, has been living in Belgium for three years now and has come to The Hague especially for this protest. « I have been following the news since the outbreak of the war in 2012 and I wanted to help elevate our voice. »

Ali doubted whether he would demonstrate because he was afraid that he would be deported the country for that. He works as an IT consultant, but now has no fixed residence permit. It is never safe for Alawites, says Ali. « Also in Turkey have been killings in recent decades. Syria was secular, and not anymore.  »

The demonstrators demand that the international community intervenes in Syria against the ethnic cleansing that they think is now going on there. The demonstrators are also angry about the fact that the European Commission has invited the new Syrian government in Brussels and may be willing to provide financial support for the transition period there.

The demonstrators do not want to be separated by the recent violence, and keep repeating that « Syrians are one »

« I work as a carpenter and pay taxes in the Netherlands to support a murderous regime in Syria, » says a Syrian Dutchman, who does not want his name in the newspaper about that. He says he has lost five family members in the explosion of violence last week. His wife fifteen family members. Another man, dressed in a raincoat with a hat and mouth cap, appeals to him. My family fled to the Russian Air Force Base, « translates the Syrian Sarah Samir who stands for him with the group. « The amount of hatred (from radical groups) has surprised us, » he says. « This escalation does not mean that it is over. This cannot stop without international pressure. « 

The demonstrators do not want to be separated by the recent violence, and keep repeating that « Syrians are one. » But, Sarah Samir says, that is becoming increasingly difficult. « Every day we are in a tense awaiting messages: whether our family is robbed, attacked or killed. Everyone was so happy when the Assad regime fell. But now we are forced not to feel Syrian anymore. They force us not to give anything except the fate of our people. And how else can we hear the stories of fleeing families, hiding in forests? ”

Headscarf on

Aya nods next to her. She talks about how unsafe her sisters are currently feeling in Syria. They are intimidated, she says: “Safety forces that now keep order on the coast, told my sisters that they should wear headscarves. They threatened to kill them differently. « 

The Syrians true NRC It all speaks to emphasize that there is an information war going on. They say that the new regime is spreading a lot of propaganda and that the media takes over many narratives. « There is no independent press in Syria, everyone is biased. And many Syrians don't believe our stories, « says Samir.

« Nobody dares to speak out there, » Samir sees. « Because otherwise you blame you to be an Assad-Loyalist. » One of the organizers with Turkish background confirms that: “This is the first time in my life that I am going to demonstrate for myself. And I am still warned by family and friends: you will soon be caught. I have always restrained myself. ”

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