Syria’s Alawites Ask India For Help.
Title: Surviving the Massacre: A Syrian Alawite’s Horror Story
In the heart of Syria’s brutal conflict, sectarian violence has reached unimaginable levels. Alawite communities, often targeted due to their association with President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, face relentless massacres. Survivors recount horrifying experiences of mass killings, including one man who endured unspeakable torture.
“They shouted, ‘Come out, you Alawite pigs!’” he recalls, his voice trembling. Dragged from his hiding place, he was brutally beaten before being stabbed multiple times in the head, back, and stomach. Left for dead among the bodies of his family and neighbors, he miraculously survived.
The attacks are systematic. Entire villages have been wiped out, with men executed, women assaulted, and children slaughtered. The world watches as Syria descends further into bloodshed, yet international intervention remains limited.
As the violence rages on, Syria’s Alawites desperately seek refuge and global assistance. Many are now appealing to India and other nations for humanitarian aid and diplomatic intervention, hoping for a chance at survival amidst the ongoing carnage.
Surviving the Massacre: The Nightmare of Syria’s Alawites
Ali Koshmr, a 36-year-old man from Syria’s coastal city of Latakia, was jolted awake by the deafening sounds of gunfire, tires screeching, and dozens of angry voices. “Come out, you Alawite pigs, Nusayris!” they shouted. The chilling words sent a shiver down his spine as he realized that the nightmare he had feared for years had finally arrived.
The term ‘Nusayri’ is deeply rooted in history, referring to the followers of Ibn Nusayr, a revered figure among Syria’s Alawites. This religious and ethnic minority, making up around 12% of Syria’s population, has long been a target of sectarian violence. Largely concentrated in the regions of Latakia and Tartus, Alawites have been both politically influential and vulnerable, especially since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011.
Ali barely had time to react before bullets riddled the walls of his home. He could hear the desperate screams of his neighbors, the shattering of glass, and the chaotic sound of people running for their lives. The attack was well-coordinated, a ruthless onslaught on an Alawite-majority neighborhood.
Fear gripped him as he crawled toward a small storage space in his house, hoping to stay hidden. He could hear the militants storming homes, dragging people out into the streets. Some pleaded for their lives, while others were executed on the spot. Ali covered his mouth, trying to silence his own breathing.
Then, the inevitable happened. His door was kicked open. Rough hands pulled him from his hiding place, and the first blow landed before he could even see his attackers. A sharp pain shot through his back as he was thrown onto the floor outside. The streets, once familiar and safe, were now a scene of horror—bodies, blood, and smoke filled the air.
The men surrounding him were relentless. One of them stabbed him in the stomach, another in his back. The pain was unbearable, but before he could even process it, a knife pierced his head. His vision blurred, and the world around him darkened.
A Targeted Massacre
Ali was left for dead. His body lay motionless as the militants moved on to their next victims. Hours passed before he regained consciousness, the excruciating pain making every breath a struggle. He didn’t know how he had survived, but he knew he had to move. With whatever strength he had left, he dragged himself toward an alley, away from the carnage.
Syria’s civil war has turned into a battleground of sectarian hatred, and Alawites have become prime targets. While they have traditionally held positions of power, especially with President Bashar al-Assad being an Alawite himself, ordinary civilians like Ali have paid the price. In many areas, militants view Alawites not just as enemies, but as people unworthy of life itself.
Entire Alawite villages have been wiped out. Men are lined up and shot, women abducted or assaulted, and children slaughtered. The brutality is unimaginable, yet it continues, largely unchecked by the international community.
The Plea for Help
Survivors like Ali are now desperately seeking refuge. Many are calling on countries like India, known for its historical diplomatic ties with Syria, to intervene. They seek humanitarian assistance, a chance to escape, and international recognition of their suffering.
India has long maintained a neutral stance in Syria’s conflict, but the worsening sectarian violence raises urgent ethical and humanitarian questions. With thousands of Alawites displaced and facing systematic massacres, should India step in with aid, diplomatic pressure, or asylum offers?
Ali Koshmr, despite his horrific ordeal, refuses to give up hope. He now hides in an undisclosed location, recovering from his injuries. His story is just one of many, a testament to the resilience of a people fighting to exist in a country that has turned into a battlefield of blood and betrayal.
As the world watches, Syria’s Alawites continue their struggle for survival. The question remains: Who will answer their call for help?