Alawite Spiritual Leader Calls Nationwide Strike Against Sharaa Govt
Sheikh Ghazal Ghazal denounces coercion, demands decentralization and detainee releases, and warns against any attack on the Alawite community amid escalating political tensions.
Syria, PUREWILAYAH.COM - Syria’s highest Alawite spiritual authority, Sheikh Ghazal Ghazal, has called for a full nationwide strike and a five-day stay-at-home campaign from December 8 to 12 in protest against the government of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
The move, unprecedented in scale, affects all public and private sectors and is described by the cleric as a peaceful yet decisive response to what he calls the regime’s escalating repression and political coercion.
Sheikh Ghazal’s announcement comes amid growing discontent across Syria and renewed attempts by foreign-backed political actors to reshape the country’s internal landscape while sidelining its communities—a dynamic long exploited by Washington and the Israeli occupation.
A Harsh Rebuke of Post-Assad Leadership
In his statement, the Alawite leader said Syrians had hoped the fall of the previous government would “mark the end of tyranny.” Instead, he argued, the country is witnessing “the real collapse of what remained of this homeland under the slogan of freedom.”
He accused the Sharaa government of forcing citizens to participate in state-sponsored celebrations marking the first anniversary of Bashar al-Assad’s ouster, describing it as an attempt to replace “one unjust system with another more oppressive.”
According to Sheikh Ghazal, Syrians today face threats to their livelihoods, jobs, and personal safety as authorities use intimidation to compel attendance at political events “built on our blood and suffering.”
Calls for Accountability, Decentralization, and Release of Detainees
Sheikh Ghazal reiterated demands for:
political decentralization and local self-governance,
an end to killings and repression,
the release of thousands of detained civilians and military personnel
He emphasized that the message of self-determination through federalism has been delivered and that there will be “no compromise” on the community’s core rights.
The cleric warned that the violent suppression of demonstrations in several Syrian regions is “the spark of a fire that will not be extinguished,” signaling what he described as the end of an era of imposed silence.
Warning of Retaliation Against Any Attack on the Alawite Community
In one of his strongest statements to date, Sheikh Ghazal declared:
“Any attack on the Alawite community will not go unanswered, but will be met with a flood and bare chests.”
He rejected all attempts to impose what he described as an oppressive centralized religious political system on the country.
“We will not accept a centralized Islamic political emirate that slaughters us based on our identity.”
His remarks reflect growing fears that foreign powers—with the United States and the Israeli occupation long seeking to fracture Syria along sectarian lines—are attempting to manipulate internal divisions for geopolitical gain.
A Critical Moment for Syria’s Future
As regions across the country mark the fall of the former government, tensions are rising between the Sharaa administration and communities demanding accountability and genuine reform.
Sheikh Ghazal has emerged as a significant voice at a time when Syrians remain wary of foreign interference, externally imposed political projects, and the destabilizing ambitions of Washington and Tel Aviv across West Asia.
With a nationwide strike now underway, the coming days may prove decisive in shaping Syria’s next political chapter—one defined not by imposed agendas, but by the demands and resilience of its own people. (PW)