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Popular Anger Sweeps Syrian Coast in Response to Desecration of "Al-Khusibi" Shrine
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Escalating Protests in Alawite Areas Indicate Growing Popular Tension Against Extremists Backed by Regional Powers
Massive demonstrations erupted across cities in Latakia, Tartus, Homs, Damascus, and Hama, protesting the attack on the shrine of "Abu Abdullah Al-Hussein bin Hamdan Al-Khusibi" in Aleppo and the assassination of the shrine's guards.
Protests spread through central Tartus, Banias, Safita, Tartus countryside villages, central Latakia, Qardaha, Jableh, Latakia countryside villages, Al-Zahraa neighborhood and Al-Hadara Street in Homs, Al-Mezzeh in Damascus, and Salhab in Hama.
Protesters demanded punishment for those who attacked religious sanctuaries and shrines, withdrawal of foreign forces and militants involved in military operations, release of non-violent military personnel detained in Adra and Hama prisons, end to suppression, preservation of regional security, and stopping the targeting of Alawite community members under the pretext of "individual incidents."
Unknown assailants opened fire during the protests attempting to disperse demonstrators, causing injuries. A video spread rapidly today documenting armed men attacking the "Abu Abdullah Al-Hussein Al-Khusibi" shrine in Aleppo's Maysaloun area days ago, assassinating 5 shrine guards, mutilating their bodies, destroying the shrine, and setting it on fire.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights called for prosecuting those who attack religious sanctuaries and sectarian symbols, emphasizing that these criminal acts aim to undermine national security and destroy peaceful coexistence efforts among Syrian people's diverse sects and religions.
Following the incident, popular anger escalated among the Syrian coast and Alawite sect sheikhs, who demanded Abu Mohammed al-Jolani hold accountable those who attacked the shrine and killed the guards, amid calls for protests on the Syrian coast rejecting the incident.
"Abu Abdullah Al-Hussein Al-Khusibi" represents a spiritual reference for Alawites with great religious sanctity, and his shrine is considered one of the world's most prominent pilgrimage sites.
The shrine's caretakers, Sheikh Ammar Muhammad and Sheikh Ahmad Bilal, issued a statement saying: "Regarding the circulating video about the attack on Sheikh Abu Abdullah Al-Hussein bin Hamdan Al-Khusibi's shrine in Aleppo, we inform you that this video is not from today but occurred during the entry into Aleppo. We immediately contacted sect notables and relevant authorities to control and hold accountable those responsible for this act. Publishing the video at this time intends to provoke sedition and push people toward reactions that destroy civil peace. Therefore, we ask everyone to exercise self-control, wisdom, and allow sect notables who are communicating with relevant authorities to hold accountable those behind this attack and prevent such acts from recurring."
Levant-Agencies
