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Sectarian Targeting Expands Beyond Coastal Areas... Discriminatory Practices Reach Damascus
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The discriminatory practices in the heart of the Syrian capital confirm the continuation of an approach that entrenches societal divisions instead of addressing them through fair distribution of power
The scope of discriminatory practices is expanding beyond coastal areas to reach the heart of the capital Damascus, where activists from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights revealed that "non-Syrian" elements affiliated with the Defense and Interior Ministries in the Damascus government have set up a temporary security checkpoint during evening hours inside Al-Huda Square in the Mazzeh area.
Sources reported that those manning the checkpoint examine the identities of passersby and direct inquiries specifically related to their sectarian affiliation, amid information about detentions of civilians from the Alawite component immediately after confirming their identities.
These behaviors have caused feelings of panic and anxiety among members of the Alawite component residing in the area, with many young people avoiding going out at night for fear of being detained or harassed because of their sectarian affiliation.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights warned of the dangers of such discriminatory practices spreading in areas considered among the most sensitive neighborhoods of the capital, emphasizing that the continued infiltration of non-Syrian groups into security apparatus and authority increases societal division and threatens the Syrian national fabric, calling for an end to these violations and holding those responsible accountable without discrimination.
Analysts believe that these phenomena confirm the urgent need to adopt a constitution in Syria's future that guarantees equal rights for all Syrian components, prevents any party's domination over others, and distributes powers fairly between regions and territories.
Field reports indicate that discriminatory practices contradict the official discourse of Syria's interim caretaker government, which claims to work toward achieving stability and protecting all components, deepening the trust crisis between citizens and the new authorities.
Legal experts confirm that targeting citizens based on their sectarian affiliation constitutes a flagrant violation of citizenship principles and human rights, contradicting international standards that prohibit all forms of discrimination. They stress the necessity of establishing effective monitoring mechanisms over security agencies to ensure they are not exploited in arbitrary practices against any component of Syrian society.
