Loubna Mrie: “For decades, the Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad built his power on a single, relentless narrative of survival: The regime presented itself as the only shield against annihilation for the Alawites, the ethno-religious minority that makes up about a tenth of Syria’s population and has long understood itself to be threatened by the country’s Sunni majority.
“Supporting Assad, himself an Alawite, was a matter not of loyalty or politics for this community, the regime insisted, but of choosing between existence and extinction. This narrative, and the fear of Sunni extremist groups such as the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra, kept many Alawites bound to Assad even as the cost became unbearable.
“With Assad gone, Syria’s new government has a chance to prove that his rule was not only vicious but built on a lie. The fact that Alawites were sustained in a state of fear does not excuse the complicity of those among them who supported the regime’s crimes, which included mass incarceration, torture, extrajudicial killings, and meeting peaceful protests with lethal force. But Syria’s future will hinge on its ability to refuse the temptation of collective punishment for ordinary Alawites—and its willingness to instead guarantee their safety.
“Growing up Alawite in a family and community loyal to the Syrian government, I witnessed firsthand the consequences of standing up against the regime. I joined the uprising when it started. My Alawite background allowed me to pass through checkpoints, and among other acts of protest, I helped transport aid and medical supplies to doctors who treated wounded demonstrators in underground clinics. In my community, opposing Assad was not just seen as a political stance; it was a near-religious betrayal. I was an Alawite who had turned her back on the safety of her people, a traitor.
“In 2012, my father, family, and community disowned me. I fled to rebel-held areas, where I became a freelance photojournalist and writer. I eventually immigrated to the United States in 2014 to pursue my education. Looking back, I now understand why many in the Alawite community supported the government during the early years of the conflict—and why, over time, they became deeply disillusioned with the regime they had once staunchly defended.”
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Loubna Mrie: “For decades, the Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad built his power on a single, relentless narrative of survival: The regime presented itself as the only shield against annihilation for the Alawites, the ethno-religious minority that makes up about a tenth of Syria’s population and has long understood itself to be threatened by the country’s Sunni majority.
“Supporting Assad, himself an Alawite, was a matter not of loyalty or politics for this community, the regime insisted, but of choosing between existence and extinction. This narrative, and the fear of Sunni extremist groups such as the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra, kept many Alawites bound to Assad even as the cost became unbearable.
“With Assad gone, Syria’s new government has a chance to prove that his rule was not only vicious but built on a lie. The fact that Alawites were sustained in a state of fear does not excuse the complicity of those among them who supported the regime’s crimes, which included mass incarceration, torture, extrajudicial killings, and meeting peaceful protests with lethal force. But Syria’s future will hinge on its ability to refuse the temptation of collective punishment for ordinary Alawites—and its willingness to instead guarantee their safety.
“Growing up Alawite in a family and community loyal to the Syrian government, I witnessed firsthand the consequences of standing up against the regime. I joined the uprising when it started. My Alawite background allowed me to pass through checkpoints, and among other acts of protest, I helped transport aid and medical supplies to doctors who treated wounded demonstrators in underground clinics. In my community, opposing Assad was not just seen as a political stance; it was a near-religious betrayal. I was an Alawite who had turned her back on the safety of her people, a traitor.
“In 2012, my father, family, and community disowned me. I fled to rebel-held areas, where I became a freelance photojournalist and writer. I eventually immigrated to the United States in 2014 to pursue my education. Looking back, I now understand why many in the Alawite community supported the government during the early years of the conflict—and why, over time, they became deeply disillusioned with the regime they had once staunchly defended.”
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