Topic: Druze

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Symbolic image: Druze men in traditional garb (photo: Jalaa Marey/AFP)

Syria’s restive South

Making the Druze choose

A lot is happening in Syria’s Sweida Governorate – foreign intervention there is unprecedented both in terms of scale and number of actors – yet Damascus remains the dominant influence, writes Armenak TokmajyanMore

The Druze in the Syrian conflict: Potential to tip the scalesThe civil war in Syria: When minorities become pawns in a power gameDruze in the Golan Heights: Squeezed between occupation and civil war
Still from "Awal Bawal" by Jowan Safadi and Tamer Nefar (source: YouTube)

Druze conscription

Youth reject ″sectarian″ recruitment to the Israeli army

Conscientious objection among the Druze community is gathering support, particularly among the young men who are expected to serve in the Israeli army. One organisation that seeks to support those fighting the call to join up is ″Urfod″ or ″Refuse: your people will protect you”. Ylenia Gostoli examines the issues confronting the religious minorityMore

Facebook: Urfod or Refuse Your People Will Protect YouDruze in the Golan Heights: Squeezed between occupation and civil warGeneral election in Israel: Disillusionment and hope
Druze men residing in Israel watching smoke rise from the Syrian Druze village of Hader, 16 June 2015 (photo: JALAA MAREY/AFP/Getty Images)

Druze in the Golan Heights

Squeezed between occupation and civil war

The Golan Heights were unilaterally annexed by Israel in 1981. At the time, many Syrian residents fled. Most of those who remained belong to the Druze community. In this article, Ylenia Gostoli takes a closer look at the situation for the Druze in the Golan Heights and shines a light on their relationship with both Syria and their co-religionists in IsraelMore

The civil war in Syria: When minorities become pawns in a power gameThe Druze in the Syrian conflict: Potential to tip the scalesArchaeological artefacts and sites in Syria: When historical treasures become pawns in a civil war
The Roman amphitheatre in Suwaida, Syria (photo: Wikipedia)

Archaeological artefacts and sites in Syria

When historical treasures become pawns in a civil war

The Druze region in southern Syria, home to numerous archaeological treasures, is still regarded as one of the strongholds of the Assad regime. But that may soon change. Will Suwaida become the next Palmyra? By Joseph CroitoruMore

Photo gallery: Palmyra, an oasis of cultural historyThe Druze in the Syrian conflict: Potential to tip the scalesThe civil war in Syria: When minorities become pawns in a power gamePalmyra's ancient queen: Zenobia, secular Arab heroine
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (photo: Reuters)

The civil war in Syria

When minorities become pawns in a power game

The Assad clan is exploiting the multi-religious composition of Syria and holding its minorities in a fatal grip of dependency. By Haid N. Haid and Bente SchellerMore

The Assad regime and the civil war in Syria: Clash of barbarismsThe Druze in the Syrian conflict: Potential to tip the scalesSyrian Christians and the Assad regime: "Assad is only protecting himself"Syria's minorities and the uprising against the regime: In Assad's fortress
Members of the Druze community in Syria holding up Syrian flags during a demonstration of loyalty to the regime in Majdal Sams (photo: picture-alliance)

The Druze in the Syrian conflict

Potential to tip the scales

For many years, Syria's Druze community was regarded as a loyal ally of Assad. Yet their pleas to Damascus to protect them against extremist groups fell on deaf ears. Now, on account of their increasing distance to the Baath regime, the Druze are at risk of getting caught in the crossfire. Details by Firas MaksadMore

Four years of war in Syria: Where the uprising began and still lives onSyrian Christians and the Assad regime: "Assad is only protecting himself"Minorities in Syria: United against AssadSyria's minorities and the uprising against the regime: In Assad's fortress
Protests against Bashar al-Assad on 25 May 2012 in Daraa, Syria (photo: Reuters)

Four years of war in Syria

Where the uprising began and still lives on

The southern Syrian city of Daraa is the "cradle of the revolution" and the last bastion of the uprising against the Assad regime. Kristin Helberg on the special significance the provincial city has held since the start of the Syrian rebellion four years agoMore

Peace initiatives for Syria: Negotiate locally, implement internationallyStrategies against Islamic State: The case against an alliance with AssadSyrian refugees in Lebanon: "We will perish here!"Interview with the Syrian blogger Aboud Saeed: "When the regime lost its control, I lost my fear"
President Bashar al-Assad visiting the Christian town of Maalula (photo: dpa)

Syrian Christians and the Assad regime

1

"Assad is only protecting himself"

Syria's dictator Bashar al-Assad likes to present himself as a champion of his nation's religious minorities, in particular the Christians. But increasing numbers of Syrian Christians in exile are resisting this narrative. By Martina SabraMore

Syria: The Opposition and the Church: A Slap in the Face for the Pro-Democracy MovementInterview with Father Paolo Dall'Oglio: Hoping for a Victory without RevengeOriental Christians in Germany: Providing a Diplomatic Bridge
The Syrian-born writer Rafik Schami (photo: dpa/picture-alliance)

Interview with Rafik Schami

Defending the Assad kingdom

According to renowned Syrian-born writer Rafik Schami, Assad's survival concept is quite straightforward: to keep his clan in power at any price. He is being aided in this endeavour by the West's indecisiveness towards his regime. Interview conducted by Eren GüvercinMore

Syria and the Ba'ath regime: Assad and the post-eternity eraSyrian opposition groups: Time to join forcesInterview with the Syrian writer Samar Yazbek: ''The Syrian revolution has not lost its innocence''