Extremist Violence Targets Civilians, Sufi Heritage in Syria Amid Continued Chaos

(TJV) Syria remains engulfed in turmoil as extremist groups carry out brutal executions and acts of violence against civilians and soldiers in the power vacuum left by the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government. The chaos has brought renewed assaults on both human lives and the deeply spiritual traditions of Sufism, a mystical branch of Islam.

Sufism, known for its emphasis on inner spirituality, meditation, and universal love, has long been a counterpoint to extremist ideologies. Advocates of Sufism, including figures like the late Sheikh Muhammad Saeed Ramadan al-Bhouti, have faced persecution for opposing radical interpretations of Islam. Sheikh al-Bhouti was assassinated in 2013 for his vocal condemnation of extremist violence and unwavering support for peaceful coexistence.

His son, Sheikh Tawfiq al-Bhouti, was reportedly assassinated on Tuesday by unidentified attackers, further underscoring the persistent targeting of Sufi leaders and values.

In the latest wave of violence, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Al-Qaeda-linked faction that seized control of Damascus, was filmed executing unarmed men in al-Rabia, Latakia. The victims were labeled “Shabiha,” a derogatory term for pro-government civilians or soldiers. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported continued clashes in al-Rabia, including HTS militants besieging officers in a fortified farm.

Elsewhere, Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) fighters executed civilians and displaced thousands of Kurdish families in Manbij City. According to SOHR, the militants burned homes, looted properties, and killed at least three individuals, including a woman, in targeted violence.

ISIS remains another source of brutality, as its fighters executed 54 Syrian soldiers fleeing the central province of Homs on Monday. The terror group captured and killed them in the Sukhna desert region as remnants of Assad’s regime crumbled, according to SOHR.

These incidents highlight the widespread devastation and the erasure of Syria’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage, particularly the practices and proponents of Sufism. The systematic targeting of Sufi leaders and the violence perpetrated by radical groups signal an ongoing attempt to extinguish a philosophy of tolerance and spirituality amid the chaos of war.