Syrian Jihadi Magazine Urges Resistance To 'Shi'ization' Of Syria By 'Freeing Syria From Iranian Occupation' And Targeting Senior Iranian Officials In The Country

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August 18, 2022

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On August 6, 2022, the Telegram channel of the Balagh monthly magazine, published by independent, anti-Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) jihadi clerics in Syria's Idlib region, released Issue 39 of the magazine.[1] The editorial in this issue warns against efforts by Iran to disseminate Shi'ism in Syria to the extent that it changes the character of the Syrian people and their country. It also urges that a series of steps be taken, starting with, "liberating Syria from the Iranian occupation… promoting military activity behind enemy lines," and also targeting senior Iranian officials who are active in the country.

Titled, "How to Cope with the Shi'ization War," the editorial opens by recalling two incidents which have taken place in Syria over the past month which, it claims, "ring an alarm bell regarding what is happening in the areas of Syria that are occupied [by the Iranians], which includes: waging war against the Sunnis, [and] disseminating Shi'ism and making dangerous demographic changes with destructive implications for Syria." The first incident referred to is the torching of a mosque in "occupied Aleppo," while the second is the holding of ceremonies to mark Eid Al-Ghadir (among the more significant Shi'ite Muslim holidays).

According to Balagh, the Iranians have occupied most of Syria's territory and are now working to strengthen their hold on the country by disseminating Shi'ism among the Sunnis, who constitute a majority of the residents in the country. The editorial lists various approaches it maintains are being used by the Iranians, such as: the establishment of local military brigades that have a "Rafidite" (pejorative term for Shi'ite) character and which are subordinate to Iran; the provision of Iranian scholarships to Syrian students and the integration of those students into the "Rafidite" sect; the granting of Syrian citizenship to numerous Shi'ites from Iraq and Iran, and of Iranian citizenship to Syrians; the establishment of new Shi'ite religious centers and the transforming of Sunni mosques into such centers; the purchase of houses and land in territories settled by Sunnis with the aim of settling Shi'ites there; extending the custom of short-term marriage (which is solely a Shi'ite custom); and the encouragement of marriages between Shi'ite men and Sunni women so that the women will adopt Shi'ism; the exploitation of charity and aid activities to disseminate Shi'ism; and more.

The editorial claims that the Shi'ites harbor deep hatred and a lust for revenge against the Sunnis in Syria who – according to the Shi'ites – are responsible for the death of Husayn ibn Ali, a grandson of the prophet Muhammad and a son of Ali ibn Abu Talib and Muhammad's daughter Fatima. It further states that this hatred explains many of "the crimes perpetrated by the Shi'ites against the Syrian revolution, and those who join Shi'ism are nothing more than a tool for the subjugation of the Syrians by the Safavids [a pejorative term for the Iranians]."

While precise numbers are not supplied about the scope of the Shi'ization phenomenon in Syria, the editorial notes that with the passage of a decade of continuous efforts, it is something that should not be taken lightly. It stresses that it would be a mistake to minimize the seriousness of the phenomenon and adds that the attempt proves that great power tempts many to deviate from the straight path and can change the character of entire peoples. It states that the evidence for this is the way that during the last century the ideas of communism, Ba'athism, pan-Arabism, and secularism were disseminated in Syria.

In conclusion, the editorial maintains that, "In light of the planting of these cluster bombs which will detonate Syria's present and its future," one must be alert to the danger inherent in the dissemination of Shi'ism in Syria, and seriously examine the ways to wage "jihad against this dangerous plot." It emphasizes that, "there is no alternative to the liberation of Syria from the Iranian occupation and every delay on this road or reliance on internationally [sponsored] ceasefires means tossing our people away like prey for those criminal wild animals who have lost their way."

Balagh claims that there is a need to find ways to warn the residents of the territories that are controlled by the Syrian regime of the danger inherent in the "Persian aspirations" in the region and to assist those among them who seek to flee those areas – in order to preserve their religion – to reach the liberated territories. The editorial also calls "to promote military activity behind enemy lines with the objective of harming the leaders of the apostates among the Safavid senior officials who stand with the Nusayri regime [a derogatory name for the Alawite sect, i.e. the Syrian regime] in its war against the Muslims."

 

 

 

[1] Telegram, August 6, 2022.


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