Bloody conflict in Syria: Drusen and Muslims fight for honor

Bloody conflict in Syria: Drusen and Muslims fight for honor

Jaramana, Syrien - In Syria, there were severe disputes between the religious minority of the Drusen and Sunni Muslims, in which at least 13 people were killed. According to information from Exxpress.at , the conflict was triggered by a sound recording in which a druse is said to have insulted the prophet mohammed. Armed from the Sunni city of Maliha and surrounding areas then entered the city of Jaramana inhabited by Drusen, which resulted in violent battles with firearms. Among the dead are also two members of a newly founded security force consisting of former rebels.

The Syrian Ministry of the Interior described the incidents as civil protests that converted violence. Many municipal representatives accuse the government of not preventing the attack. This is not the first incident of this kind, but part of a series of religiously motivated outbursts of violence that have increased since the fall of Bashar al-Assad. Religious minorities, especially the Drusen, see themselves increasingly threatened and their willingness to defend is growing. In this context, the Israeli government also shows willingness to expand its protective measures.

religious tensions in the Middle East

The latest events in Syria illustrate the role of religion as a conflict factor in the Middle East. As shown in an analysis on academia.edu , ethnic-religious issues are both in urban areas of great importance. Religion is involved in more than half of all conflicts worldwide and thus has a significant influence on violence development. The geographical focus of these conflicts is in the Middle East and North Africa, where local disputes are often embedded in a larger regional and international context.

The Druze, a religious community of Arabic descent, feel particularly threatened by the political upheavals and the ongoing civil war. Their history shapes their identity and their current willingness to defend. The Syrian civil war not only has ambivalent consequences for the security of Israel, but also for dealing with religious minorities in the region. The political landscapes are currently experiencing a change, and threatened communities are prompted to strengthen their own protective measures.