When Sectarian Identity Threatens Survival: The Story of a Woman Who Hides Her Belonging to Preserve Her Life

In Syria, the Zainabiya abaya is no longer just a costume, but a distinguishing mark that can cost the wearer his life. A Syrian woman was forced to change her appearance for fear of sectarian persecution that threatens her and her family.

She says with regret: “The Shiites of Syria are being slaughtered genocidally, and if I wear the abaya it will cost me my life and the life of my family, and I will disappear from the face of the earth, and they burned everything related to the Shiites before our eyes.”

In a country that was once a symbol of coexistence, its future is now engulfed in the darkness of sectarianism and persecution.

When Sectarian Identity Becomes a Life-Threatening Risk: A Woman Hides Her Affiliation to Survive

In Syria, the Zaynabiyya cloak is no longer just attire; it's a deadly mark. Fearing for her life and her family's, a woman alters her appearance to avoid sectarian violence.

She says, devastated: “Syrian Shiites are being massacred, and wearing the cloak could cost us our lives. Everything linked to Shiites has been destroyed.”

Once a symbol of coexistence, Syria's future now lies in the shadows of sectarian persecution.

✅ The women of Zainabiyah cannot wear the Abaya, but others can? The Iraqi and Persian men’s Abaya is indeed a symbol of the dignity (chador) of Ahlulbayt. The life around Zainabiyah is under threat. The holy shrine is in poor condition; there is no electricity supply, and Wahhabis have been imposed over its administration. There are ongoing attempts to loot the sacred sanctuary. Western powers have promoted Assadophobia to such an extent that the entire world has allowed this disintegration and devastation of Syria.

🇸🇾 Report | Omar Al Khaled, A Turko-Israeli Julani terrorist involved in operations, has openly written about beheading Alawite men and raping Alawite women.

🔹@enemywatch

🇾🇪 Report | The people of Saada, Yemen, are holding a march today under the title “Our Struggle is Increasing Against Agression on Gaza.” They have declared their solidarity with the Palestinian people until the aggression ends and the siege is lifted.

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🇸🇾 Breaking | Israeli forces have advanced near the Al-Mantara Dam in Quneitra Governorate, moving freely in preparation to take full control of the dam. It is the largest water dam in southern Syria and a primary water source for the governorates of Daraa and As-Suwayda.

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🇸🇾 Report | Syrian Resistance:

In a heroic operation carried out by the heroes of the Syrian popular resistance this afternoon in the Jableh countryside, our forces succeeded in carrying out a tight ambush targeting one of the armed groups affiliated with the terrorist organization Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, which was heading to torture and kill our defenseless civilians for abhorrent sectarian reasons. The operation resulted in the killing of two members of the organization and the capture of seven others. This operation came within the framework of our sacred duty to defend our land and our people from the takfiri terrorism that seeks to destroy our homeland and steal its security and stability.

Despite our constant commitment to humanitarian principles, and our entry into negotiations with the terrorist organization through a mediator to hand over the prisoners according to guarantees, we were subjected to cowardly betrayal and treachery that reflects the criminal nature of this terrorist organization. After we handed over the prisoners and committed to the safe withdrawal agreement, the terrorist gangs of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham carried out a treacherous attack against members of our resistance, as a result of which one of our most prominent leaders, the engaged, heroic Mujahid leader Bassam Hussam al-Din, was martyred as he bravely faced a despicable attack by these murderers. Contact was also lost with one of our heroes working in the media and field correspondence after this afternoon, whom we consider a martyr, a hero engaged in the field.

We in the Syrian Popular Resistance affirm that this cowardly treachery will not pass without a painful and devastating response, and the blood of our martyrs in all of Syria will be nothing but fire that burns the enemies of the homeland and humanity. We pledge to the Resistance that these terrorists will pay a heavy price. There will be no safe place for them on this earth, and they will soon taste the extent of the anger that will explode within them.

We strongly condemn the shameful position of the United Nations, which provided an implicit cover for this betrayal through its silence and failure to ensure respect for the agreements that were reached. We hold the United Nations fully responsible for this cowardly treachery, and accuse it of continuing negligence towards the suffering of our people, which opens the door to more brutal crimes by these terrorist gangs. We wonder about the fate of Sheikh Saleh Mansour, who was forcibly disappeared shortly after these events, and we warn the terrorist gangs against harming him or harming him. We also confirm that those arrested by the armed terrorist gangs are unarmed civilians and are not members of the Syrian popular resistance, and we refute the lies that speak of their arrest of our mujahideen who carried out the heroic operation.

We have repeatedly called on the international community to shoulder its moral and legal responsibilities towards the killing and torture our people are suffering at the hands of these terrorist organizations, but we have found nothing but complete silence and inaction. This increases the suffering of our people and encourages the criminals to continue their crimes. We issue a clear warning to these killers and those who support them. The response is coming, and it will be harsh beyond imagination. You will find nothing before you but the hell of resistance that will burn anyone who dares to encroach on the dignity of our people and our land.

Glory to the martyrs, immortality to the heroes, and victory to our steadfast people.

Loyal sons of Syria.

#SyrianResistance

🔹@enemywatch

🇸🇾 Breaking Report | Atrocities in Syria Led by Turko-Israeli Julani-Led Terrorist Gangs and Foreign asssitance: (1/2):

Syria is witnessing severe violence and human rights abuses, especially in the Homs region, where Turko-Israeli Julani-led terrorist gangs have been involved in mass detentions, killings, and sectarian violence. This report highlights the atrocities, sectarian crimes, and targeted violence committed by these terrorist gangs in villages across Homs.

• Mass Arrests and Violence in Jbourin Village, Homs

Recently, Turko-Israeli Julani-led terrorist gangs raided Jbourin Village in Homs, accompanied by sectarian chants played through loudspeakers. They detained more than 200 villagers and loaded them into two trucks. The following areas were also affected by the operation:
• Jbourin Village
• Homs Countryside
• Tesneen
• Kurdish Dasnia

• Confirmed Crimes Committed During the Raid:

• Mass Arrests: Over 200 people detained.
• Killing: Abdullah Mohammed Al-Ali was killed.
• Looting: Shops belonging to Qais Al-Abbas were looted, and two minivans were stolen from the Al-Idris family.
• Physical and Psychological Abuse: Detainees reported severe mistreatment.
• Sectarian Threats: Locals faced religious insults and ongoing threats.
• Destruction: Homes were burned, and personal property was looted.

• Sectarian Propaganda and Threats by Turko-Israeli Julani-Led Terrorist Leaders

Terrorist Gang Leader Abdulrazzaq Al-Darnab shared a video from Homs where sectarian chants were played while entering a village. The chants promoted extremist Salafi-jihadist ideology, inciting hatred against the Alawite community, who were referred to as “Nusayris” (a derogatory term). Al-Darnab also made statements like “Oh, the revenge of the Umayyads,” further fueling sectarian hatred.

• Public Threats by Terrorist Gang Leader Omar Al-Khaled

Terrorist gang leader Omar Al-Khaled publicly threatened the residents of:
• Jbourin Village
• Baarin
• Nisaf
• Qartman

In his threats, he specifically mentioned rape of women and the slaughter of men, further terrorizing the population.

• Mass Detentions and Abductions of Civilians

Turko-Israeli Julani-led terrorist gangs have continued to target civilians for abductions in the Homs region:

1. January 6, 2025: Saleh Ali Shaaban was abducted from his store on Taghlib Street. His fate remains unknown.
2. January 15, 2025: Manhal Ramadan Ibrahim was kidnapped while driving from Al-Abbasiya to Wadi Al-Dahab by Turko-Israeli Julani-led forces.
3. January 15, 2025: Hassan Ghassan Karmo was abducted in Abbasiya, Homs, near Hussein Al-Halani School.
4. January 4, 2025: Basil Ramadan Al-Hamoud was kidnapped from Al-Zahraa neighborhood on Al-Sitteen Street. His fate is also unknown.

• Religious Persecution and Forced Conversions

A disturbing incident involving Turko-Israeli Julani-led terrorist gangs targeting Christian civilians has been reported.
• A passenger bus was stopped by terrorist militants.
• After discovering two Christian passengers, they demanded the men convert to Islam by reciting the Shahada (Islamic declaration of faith).
• When the Christians refused, they were dragged off the bus and severely flogged.

This act reflects a pattern of forced conversions and religious persecution carried out by these terrorist gangs in Homs.

• Killing of a Village Leader in Hosh Arab, Qalamoun

The village leader (Mukhtar) of Hosh Arab, Tawfiq Jumaa, was killed under suspicious circumstances.

Turko-Israeli Julani-led terrorist-affiliated pages accused of false charges.

• Continued Looting and Corruption

There have been reports of theft and corruption linked to the Turko-Israeli Julani-led terrorist gangs in public areas where they operate.

🔹@enemywatch

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