Syrian authorities warned on Tuesday against attempts to spark sectarian strife in the country in wake of protests in some coastal regions that demanded “decentralization”.
Sources close to the government told Asharq Al-Awsat that “certain parties are carrying out suspicious activities in Syria in wake of the successful outcomes achieved by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa on his recent visit to Washington.”
“These parties are affiliated with known foreign parties that have an interest in spreading chaos in Syria through exploiting minorities to achieve their agendas,” they added, predicting ISIS cells to take action and for deliberate acts of rioting to take place in the coming days.
The sources noted that the recent killing of a couple in Homs aimed to spark tensions with one of the largest Bedouin clans in the province and spark sectarian strife.
Hundreds of Alawite youths had taken to the streets of the Latakia, Tartus and Hama provinces. The protests were called for Alawite figures, including Ghazal Ghazal, head of the Supreme Alawite Islamic Council in Syria and the Diaspora.
Protesters demanded “an end to the killing”, the release of detainees held by the new Syrian authorities and the implementation of decentralized rule. Security forces were at the scene to maintain order.
Meanwhile, Interior Ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba underlined the people’s right to hold protests and to freedom of expression. “This right has been enshrined through the blood of a million Syrian martyrs of the great Syrian revolution,” he added.
The Syrian state is the sole guarantor of the demands of all the Syrian people, he went on to say, warning against being “lured by calls of strife promoted by foreign parties.”
He said officials from the Interior Ministry, accompanied by internal security forces leaders, toured Homs and met with the people. He said “fruitful and positive” talks were held and no attacks were reported.
He added that the security forces ensured that the protests in the coastal regions were held safely to prevent any unrest instigated by parties aiming to sow chaos.
The Interior Ministry respects the right of freedom of expression under the rule of law and while ensuring that civil peace is preserved, the spokesman stressed.
Moreover, he said the parties seeking to sow strife are all present outside of Syria. Some of the sectarian slogans that were chanted at the protests demonstrate the ill will of these parties.
