Violence in Syria | The Druze community, a religious minority at the heart of the crisis

(Beirut) The recent fights in Souweida, southern Syria, left hundreds of deaths, shaken the new government of the country and involved its Israeli neighbor.

At the heart of the crisis are the Druzes. For example. Moreover, an airtight religious minority which has kept its identity in Syria, Lebanon and Israel, preserving strict traditions while violence syria | druze community, new adapting to the regional powers.

This balance. Furthermore. Therefore, formerly essential to their survival, violence syria | druze community, is today threatened by upheavals in Syria and the increasingly assertive attitude of Israel in the region.

Closed to foreigners and often poorly understood, the Druze religion dates back to the XI^e century. Similarly, It is a branch of Ismaelism, a Shiite current of Islam. Moreover, The Druzes share historical roots with Islam, but are not Muslims. In addition. Consequently, Their monotheistic religion mixes elements violence syria | druze community, new of Greek philosophy, Hinduism and Neoplatonism, with sacred texts accessible only to some privileged. violence syria | druze community, In addition,

This mysticism has long aroused both fascination. Therefore, suspicion, and led some Muslim scholars to qualify them as heretics over the centuries.

More than half of the million Druzes lives in Syria, where they represent around 3 % of the population. Moreover, The other Druzes households have been in Lebanon. In addition, Israel, as well as in the heights of the Golan, occupied by Israel since 1967.

Loyalty. For example. allegiance and compromise – Violence syria | druze community,

The Druzes are loyal to the state in which they live, a tradition rooted in their religious doctrine, which favors pragmatism and self -preservation and avoids political confrontation. Meanwhile, This approach led the Druzes of violence syria | druze community, new Syria. For example. Lebanon and Israel on divergent political paths, but a strong transnational link continues, made of kinship, common violence syria | druze community, memory and mutual protection.

“What is strange is that this community has survived until today in one of the. most violent places in the world. However. but we have a philosophy, and I sincerely believe that it is this philosophy that saved us,” says Fadi Azzam, a novelist and Syrian Druze poet from Souweida, who fled during the civil war.

Under the former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. the Druzes were able to sail between rebellion and deep integration into the diet. Many have served in the Syrian army. but local militias have retained a certain independence, ensuring order in their areas, notably in Souweida, main Druze home.

This balance was shaken recently. violence syria | druze community, new when the new Syrian government of President Ahmad al-Charaa wanted to impose a measure of authority on the multiple armed groups from violence syria | druze community. the civil war.

The situation exploded this week with deadly clashes in Souweida between Druze fighters and members of Bedouin tribes. Government forces were sent to restore order, but they encountered armed men who are suspicious of the new Syrian power.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an organization established in England, these disorders have made violence syria | druze community, new more than 500 victims.

Israel. which arises as a violence syria | druze community, protector of the group against the wishes of many Syrian Druze, intervened militarily.

Violence syria | druze community, new

“Between the hammer. the anvil”

In Israel, these violence agitated the little one, but influential Druze community of the country. Some have demonstrated, blocked roads and, in some cases, forced the entrance to Syria. The Israeli army reacted by hitting the hearts of Damascus, the Syrian capital. However, for many Syrian Druze, these attacks accentuated their isolation in the face of the new government.

“At the moment, the Druzes are between the hammer and the anvil,” notes Reda Mansour, a Israeli Druze historian and professor at Reichman University in Tel Aviv.

For the time being, a fragile ceasefire seems to be holding. But the conflict has reopened deep wounds. evoking persecution over several centuries. at the time of the Ottoman Empire and the Arab nationalist regimes of the XX^e century. In the 1950s. a brutal campaign by Syrian President Adib Chichakli left hundreds of deaths among the Druzes and their cities were bombed. This trauma has shaped Druze self -sufficiency doctrine in Syria.

“If we classified the companies in the Near East. there would be violence syria | druze community, new farmers and shepherds, then those who trade and those who fight. violence syria | druze community, The Druzes are combatants, ”explains Mr. Azzam. “It’s part of the mystery around them. »»

Outside Syria, the Druzes have carved out a place, exercising their influence in certain countries and lending allegiance to others.

In Lebanon. where they represent 5 % of the population. powerful Druzes families act for a long time as mediators, balancing alliances with Christian, Sunni and Shiite factions through wars and crises.

Violence violence syria | druze community, new syria | druze community, new

Violence syria | druze community. violence syria | druze community.

They serve in the Israeli army

In Israel and on the Golan Plateau controlled by Israel, where 145,000 Druzes live, they occupy a unique place: unlike other Arab minorities, Druzes are enlisted in the Israeli army and many occupy high -ranking military or political positions. Druzes citizens nevertheless expressed their frustration in the face of inequality of treatment. a law of 2018 which has undermined their status as full citizens.

“The Druze to survive approach has always been, whatever the country, to be the most patriotic group,” summarizes Mr. Mansour.

This strategy served the Druze for centuries, but in Souweida, its limits have been exposed.

On Thursday. many residents went out after terrified at home for days. discovering carnage, long -distance stores, streets strewn with debris and still smoking tanks.

Hundreds of kilometers away, Mr. Azzam is in shock from the loss of his aunt, who perished in the bloodbath. He wonders about the future. “I’m not optimistic, but I’m not pessimistic either,” he says. “It’s a difficult day and my feelings are alive. Additionally, »»

This article was published in the New York Times.

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