Buch(elektronisch)#12016
The Alawis of Syria: war, faith and politics in the Levant
In: Urban conflicts, divided societies
Throughout the turbulent history of the Levant the Alawis - a secretive, resilient and ancient Muslim sect - have aroused suspicion and animosity, including accusations of religious heresy. More recently they have been tarred with the brush of political separatism and complicity in the excesses of the Assad regime, claims that have gained greater traction since the onset of the Syrian uprising and subsequent devastating civil war. The contributors to this book provide a complex and nuanced reading of Syria's Alawi communities - from loyalist gangs (Shabiha) to outspoken critics of the regime