Alawites (Syria): Difference between revisions

After the defeat of the Ottoman empire in the World War I and the entrance of the allies in Syria, including the residential areas of the Alawites, came under the [[French]] control.

In 1920, France recognized the area of Nusayriyya mountains as an independent from other areas the formation of Latakia’s Alawite government. In 1922, the Alawite lands came to be known as the “Alawite government” and General Bayut was appointed as its ruler. Independent judicial courts were then founded which adjudicated the cases on the basis of the [[Ja'fari fiqh]].

When the Alawite areas were annexed to Syria, Alawite youths attended army academies and began to have good-ranking positions in the army. Since the young Alawite officers had experienced poverty, deprivations, and oppression and had lived in non-urban areas could encourage Alawite and non-Alawite farmers, who were dissatisfied with the status quo, to rise against traditional lords in order to push agendas such as land reforms.

Uprisings against the lords became more serious when the Ba'ath party of Syria emerged and people, including the peasants and people from distant areas, were attracted to the Ba'ath party and began to fight the noble class. In this period, the ties between the Syrian army which was mainly controlled by Alawite officers and the Ba'ath party became stronger. In 1960s, the Ba'ath party took over the power in Syria with the support of the army.