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Curfew Imposed in Homs Amid Unrest Linked to Sectarian Demonstrations
DAMASCUS – The city of Homs in Syria has been placed under a temporary curfew, according to state media reports. This decision follows a wave of unrest attributed to protests reportedly organized by individuals from the Alawite and Shiite minority communities.
Details regarding the protesters’ specific demands and the extent of the unrest are still unverified. However, local residents have indicated that the demonstrations may be a reaction to recent pressures and acts of violence targeting the Alawite minority, which is historically seen as loyal to the ousted President Bashar al-Assad. Assad was removed from power by Sunni Islamist factions on December 8.
No immediate response has been received from representatives of the newly established governance led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), known for its previous affiliation with al-Qaeda.
The enforced curfew is set to last from 6 PM local time (1500 GMT) until 8 AM the following morning, according to state media reports.
The current leadership has made repeated assurances to safeguard minority religious groups, which have expressed concerns regarding potential discrimination and the rise of a conservative Islamic government under the control of former rebel factions.
In addition to Homs, smaller protests have emerged in other coastal areas where Alawite communities are concentrated, such as the city of Tartous.
This unrest coincides with the circulation of a disturbing video across social media platforms, purportedly showing a fire within an Alawite shrine in Aleppo, accompanied by armed individuals and disturbing imagery involving human casualties. The Syrian Ministry of Interior clarified on its official Telegram account that the video was recorded during a rebel offensive in Aleppo in late November and noted that those currently distributing the footage appear to be attempting to incite sectarian violence.
Furthermore, the ministry reported that members sympathizing with the former regime had launched an attack on its forces in the coastal region on Wednesday, resulting in various casualties.
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