In recent months, the world has witnessed unspeakable horrors committed against innocent Alawite civilians in Syria—and the atrocities continue to this day. Entire families are being massacred, children are murdered, and women are abducted —for slavery or worse. Men of reproductive age are systematically targeted and executed. These atrocities are not random acts of violence—they are rooted in a toxic, radical ideology known as Takfirism. To truly understand the scope and motivation behind these crimes, we must examine the core tenets of Takfirism, the historical roots of its hatred toward the Alawites, and the powerful actors who help sustain it.
What Is Takfirism?
Takfirism is an extremist ideology that distorts mainstream Sunni Islam. It stems from the Arabic word takfir, which means “to declare someone a non-believer (kafir).” Takfiris go far beyond theological disagreements—they accuse other Muslims, especially those who differ in belief or practice, of apostasy. According to their doctrine, such apostates deserve death.
Takfirism is central to the ideology of terrorist groups like ISIS (Daesh), Al-Nusra, and Al-Qaeda (currently, all are brought together under the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) umbrella in Syria). These groups are not merely political rebels; they are religiously motivated extremists who believe they are divinely ordained to purify Islam through violence.
But this violent ideology hasn't spread on its own. It has been tolerated, encouraged, and in some cases directly supported by powerful regional actors—not just fringe militias.
Why the Alawites?
The Alawites are a religious minority in Syria, often classified under the broader umbrella of Shia Islam. However, their beliefs are distinct and esoteric, blending Islamic teachings with elements of Gnosticism, Neoplatonism, and other mystical traditions. This unique blend makes Alawite theology difficult to categorize according to conventional Sunni or Shia definitions, leading to confusion and hostility from both camps.
For centuries, Sunni and Shia scholars have struggled to classify Alawites. To many extremist Sunni clerics, the Alawite faith represents a dangerous deviation from mainstream Islam. As a result, Alawites have been labeled as kuffar (non-believers) or murtadeen (apostates). Such labels go beyond simple theological disagreements; they reflect the belief that Alawites have rejected core Islamic principles—and in the eyes of Takfiris, this makes them far worse than Christians or Jews, who, despite being non-Muslim, are considered "People of the Book" and are given a degree of respect under Islamic law.
The Takfiri movement, particularly those influenced by extremist Wahhabi and Salafi ideologies, sees Alawites not just as mistaken but as active enemies of Islam. These groups hold that Alawite beliefs, which include practices and doctrines that are perceived as blasphemous by ultra-conservative interpretations of Islam, represent a fundamental threat to the purity of the faith. Their theology is seen as so far removed from orthodoxy that it justifies their violent persecution.
This extreme view of Alawites is grounded in the belief that their rejection of what Takfiris deem as the true path of Islam places them in the category of apostates—individuals who have actively chosen to leave the faith, making them a legitimate target for violence. Unlike Christians and Jews, who are afforded a certain level of protection as monotheists, Alawites are seen as deserving of no such tolerance. To Takfiris, Alawites are not merely non-believers; they are seen as actively undermining Islam itself.
The result of this theological framework is a warped and dangerous worldview where the Alawite population is viewed as a threat that must be eradicated. This view justifies atrocities against Alawite civilians, painting them as legitimate targets for mass murder and annihilation.
The Role of the Muslim Brotherhood, Turkey, and Qatar
While Takfiri groups carry out the atrocities, they do not operate in isolation. Their rise and survival have been aided by state-backed ideological and logistical support, particularly from actors aligned with the Muslim Brotherhood.
The Muslim Brotherhood is a global Islamist movement that promotes a political vision of Islam and seeks to implement Sharia as the basis of governance. While it claims to oppose violence, its ideological overlap with Salafi-jihadism is undeniable. The Brotherhood’s rigid worldview, which divides humanity into “true believers” and others, serves as fertile ideological ground for radicalization.
Today, the most prominent patrons of the Muslim Brotherhood are:
- Turkey, under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has openly supported Brotherhood affiliates across the Middle East, including Syria.
- Qatar, which has provided financial, media, and political support to Brotherhood-linked groups and personalities.Both countries have been accused of enabling extremist factions in Syria. Turkey has facilitated the movement of foreign fighters and weapons across its border, while Qatar has funded so-called "rebel" groups—many of which were later revealed to have close ties with various Takfiri militia groups, including al-Qaeda and ISIS.
This strategic alliance between political Islamism and violent jihadism has had deadly consequences for minorities like the Alawites.
Brotherhood-Linked Clerics and Extremist Rhetoric
Yusuf al-Qaradawi, a spiritual leader of the Muslim Brotherhood (based in Qatar until his death), issued fatwas legitimizing suicide bombings and called for the killing of Alawites and their supporters in Syria.
Adnan al-Arour, a Syrian cleric with Brotherhood leanings and support from Saudi and Qatari media, once famously said on TV that Alawites would be “cut into pieces and fed to dogs.”Sheikh Mohammed al-Mohaisany, a Saudi cleric with ideological ties to Brotherhood networks, praised jihadist fighters in Syria and demonized Alawites as enemies of Islam.
These figures shaped the worldview of thousands of fighters and served as religious cover for mass violence—while appearing regularly on major Arab satellite channels funded by state actors.
Why the World Must Understand This
Many people remain unaware of why Alawites are so intensely targeted. They may see it as a political conflict, but the truth is far deeper and darker: it’s rooted in centuries-old religious hatred, modern-day political manipulation, and extremist ideology.
Understanding the poisonous roots of Takfirism—and the political forces that sustain it—is key to ending the violence.
What Can Be Done?
Raise Awareness – Share the truth. Let people know these are not isolated revenge or war crimes, but a systematic sectarian cleansing.
Demand Accountability – Not just from militants, but from the state and non-state actors that fund, arm, or shield them.Challenge Extremist Narratives – Educate others on the difference between Islam and Takfiri extremism. Condemn the ideological enablers of hate, including mainstream Islamist movements.
Conclusion
The suffering of the Alawite people is not a coincidence or a tragic byproduct of war—it is the deliberate outcome of an ideological and geopolitical agenda. It is genocide, fueled by Takfirism, emboldened by the Muslim Brotherhood, and enabled by states like Turkey and Qatar (apart from the NATO countries- more on this later).
This is not just a Syrian tragedy—it is a human tragedy. And silence, as always, is complicity. 🕊️🤍
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