3li
69 posts










Bassam, I understand that you do not believe that the declaration of this Imam (or local authority) that the Kurds, Druze and Alawites are enemies of Syria is shared by Syria's state authorities. Let me ask you this. Are the Alawite, Ismaili, and Druze religions considered "heavenly religions?" The reason that I ask this is because the Syrian Constitution in article 3 proclaims that the "state respects all heavenly religions." Here is the important constitutional statement: "Freedom of belief is guaranteed, and the state respects all heavenly religions, and guarantees the freedom of practice of all their rituals, provided this does not infringe on public order." Most Muslim clerics and authorities accuse heterodox Muslims, i.e. Druze, Ismailis,and Alawites, of being polytheists who do not practice a heavenly religions. In fact until 2011 uprising, the 9th grade Syrian school books on Islam included in a section with the subtitle,“Islam Fights Paganism and Atheism.” It explains that “pagans are those who worship something other than God, and atheists are those who deny the existence of God.” Islam must fight these two belief systems because they “are an assault to both instinct and truth.” We are told that these belief systems “contradict the principle of freedom of belief.” This is because “Islam gives freedom of belief only within the limits of the divine path,” which “means a religion descended from heaven.” Because pagan religions are not revealed by God, they are considered an “inferior” form of belief that reflects an “animal consciousness.” Students are instructed that “Islam accepts only two choices for Pagans: that they convert to Islam or be killed (9 grade text, p. 128).” President Sharaa has said on TV that the Alawite religion is outside of Islam. And now his constitution states that "the state respects heavenly religions," which seems to me to be an intentional effort to exclude the Druze, Alawite, and Ismaili religions from state respect. But perhaps President Sharaa now believes that these religions are "heavenly religions?" I would like to hear him say that. I would like to hear you say that. See my article: "Islamic Education in Syria: Undoing Secularism." Available from: researchgate.net/publication/26…








































