The view of a Syrian atheist on the Syrian Civil War

[Humes fork]

I came across this in the news. I'll translate the relevant part below:

Quote:

In an interview with the news magazine Time Ibrahim, member of the Nusra Brigade that claimed responsibility for the bombing in Aleppo and others, describes what he fights for: a society on religious foundations rather than the Alawite Assad regime's generally secular rule. The Alawites are an offshot of the Shiite branch of Islam.

- The Alawites can do whatever they want and we have no say in it, says Ibrahim.

On the other side of the frontline worry grows, fueled by state medias. The student Ali, who describes himself as a secular atheist from an Alawite family, initially supported the protests against the regime. Now he has switched sides, out of fear for the extremists among the rebels - particularly those from other countries.

- They want an Islamic state like the Saudi one, says Ali on telephone from Damascus to TT.

- Even if the regime has committed many faults it is a better option.

The Free Syrian Army (FSA), the biggest rebe group consisting primarly of defected soldiers, reportedly has tried to cooperate with Jihadist groups in some cases, but overall the relationship is strained. PR-conscious FSA prefers to tone down the presence of Jihadists.

So do the rebels offer prospects for a better future or not? Reportedly Christians in Aleppo have started to arm themselves, knowing what happened to the Christians in Iraq in the sectarian civil war there. But the regime though being pretty secular relies on the support of theocrats like Hezbollah and Iran, and in turn supports them, so they are hardly free from that bagage either.

[Zelenius]

Originally Posted by Humes fork

I came across this in the news. I'll translate the relevant part below:



So do the rebels offer prospects for a better future or not? Reportedly Christians in Aleppo have started to arm themselves, knowing what happened to the Christians in Iraq in the sectarian civil war there. But the regime though being pretty secular relies on the support of theocrats like Hezbollah and Iran, and in turn supports them, so they are hardly free from that bagage either.

I don't think the rebels will be "better". They may be worse, and they are getting funding and arms from the Saudi theocracy. Al Qaeda and other extremist Jihadists(some coming from other countries) are among the rebel forces, though their numbers are tiny. Most Syrian rebels may be closer to what the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt is like - "conservatives" who favor an Islamic state with Sharia law, but not necessarily fanatical like Al Qaeda or the Taliban.

Many Sunnis don't even consider the Alawites to be Muslim. This is especially true of the more conservative Sunnis. If the Sunnis gain the upper hand in Syria, they may commit a genocide of the remaining Alawites(which is why even the atheist Alawite sides with the regime even though he initially supported the rebels). I really hope I am wrong about this. History gives us very few, if any, examples of underdogs, who upon seizing power, behave more humanely than those who once oppressed them.

While theocratic Shiite Iran and Hezbollah back the regime, they know it will be suicidal for the Alawite Syrian government to promote a Shiite theocracy in a country that is over 70% Sunni Muslim. The civil war in Syria, much like the civil war in Iraq a few years ago is yet another proxy war between Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iran. Since the U.S tends to favor the Saudi regime, and the Sunnis are the majority, the Sunnis will likely triumph.

And a Syrian Sunni regime will not just drive out the Alawites but will likely drive out the Christians too(and maybe the Druze). Not only are the Christians a different religion, but they also tend to be more affluent on average in Syria, so this breeds resentment among the poorer Sunni majority. On top of that, they largely side with the Assad regime, and are allies of the increasingly despised Alawites. Instead of arming themselves, the Syrian Christians(10% of the population) would be better off getting the hell out of there.

It looks like Syria and Egypt will soon get de-Christianized, just like other countries in the Middle East.

[Humes fork]

Originally Posted by Zelenius

And a Syrian Sunni regime will not just drive out the Alawites but will likely drive out the Christians too(and maybe the Druze).

Hmm, according to the Druze religion one should be loyal to one's country. The Druzes in Israel have compulsory milutary service like the Jews on the request of the Druze community. Likewise the Druzes in the Golan Heights (which are occupied by Israel) view Syria as their country and reject offers of permanent residency in Israel even though it is available to them. Would the Druzes stay fiercely loyal to Syria if it got a regime bent on massacring them?

Originally Posted by Zelenius

Not only are the Christians a different religion, but they also tend to be more affluent on average in Syria, so this breeds resentment among the poorer Sunni majority. On top of that, they largely side with the Assad regime, and are allies of the increasingly despised Alawites. Instead of arming themselves, the Syrian Christians(10% of the population) would be better off getting the hell out of there.

I think they support the Assad regime more out of a desire for survival. They knew what happened to the Christians in Iraq when the Islamists went loose.

Originally Posted by Zelenius

It looks like Syria and Egypt will soon get de-Christianized, just like other countries in the Middle East.

I think parts of the Middle East (Syria, Lebanon and perhaps also Iraq) may be going through something like the 30 Years' War. Or at least moving toward it.