Alawites Association of the United States

05/06/2026

Statement Regarding the Unlawful Detention of Dr. Akram Mousa

The Alawite Association of the United States writes with deep alarm and urgent concern regarding the arbitrary detention of Dr. Akram Mousa, a urologist, by Syrian security forces. Dr. Mousa was taken into custody without any stated charge, without due process, and without any legal basis — a grave violation of his fundamental human rights.

Dr. Mousa is a medical professional who has dedicated his life to healing others. He is the brother of three American citizens — a lawyer, a physician, and an engineer — who are watching in horror as their brother is held without explanation, without access to counsel, and without any recourse through a transparent legal process.

This is happening amid an escalating wave of persecution and sectarian incitement against Syria's Alawite community. Dr. Mousa's detention is not an isolated incident — it is part of a deeply troubling pattern of collective punishment targeting an entire ethno-religious community.

We call on Syrian interim authorities to release Dr. Akram Mousa immediately, disclose his location to his family, and guarantee his safety. We call on the United States government and the international community to raise his case urgently and to condemn the ongoing sectarian campaign against Alawites in Syria.

Being Alawite is not a crime. His detention must end now.

04/23/2026

📰PRESS RELEASE | April 23, 2026

Alawite Association of the United States Call for Measurable Progress Following Syrian Sanctions Relef: Mandatory 90-Day Report on Outlined Conditions Yet to Be Received

The Alawites Association expresses deep concern over the failure of the interim Syrian authorities to provide a credible report demonstrating progress toward the conditions tied to the lifting of sanctions under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act. These conditions explicitly include the meaningful integration of religious minorities into all aspects of public life and the prosecution of crimes committed against minority communities since the change in regime. To date, there has been documentation of human rights abuses by international observers and insufficient transparency, limited evidence of inclusion, and no clear pathway to accountability.

This failure is particularly dangerous given Syria’s fragile state amid ongoing regional conflict and instability. The government now faces the added burden of managing a growing influx of displaced persons, including returning Syrian nationals, while still grappling with weakened institutions and unresolved sectarian tensions. As a critical lynchpin in the broader stability of the Middle East, Syria’s inability to protect its minority populations and uphold justice risks further destabilization across the region.

We call on the Trump administration to apply sustained diplomatic and economic pressure to ensure that Syria meets these conditions in a measurable and transparent way. Sanctions relief and normalization must remain firmly tied to verifiable progress on minority inclusion, rule of law, and accountability for abuses. The Alawites Association also urges the international community to maintain vigilant oversight and to prioritize the protection of vulnerable communities as a cornerstone of any future engagement with Syria. Only through genuine accountability and inclusion can Syria move toward lasting peace and contribute to regional stability.

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04/02/2026

📬 TAKE ACTION TODAY: Send this letter to your elected officals to help protect minority communities in Syria!
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Now is a critical moment to ensure U.S. policy toward Syria prioritizes the protection of vulnerable communities. Supporters of the Alawites Association of the United States are calling on constituents like you to make your voice heard.

We invite you to send a message to your Senators and Representative urging them to maintain strong oversight of Syria’s progress toward sanctions relief—particularly when it comes to protecting religious minorities and ensuring accountability for ongoing human rights abuses.

Your outreach matters. Members of Congress pay close attention to their constituents, and your voice can help ensure that U.S. policy reflects our shared commitment to human rights, religious freedom, and justice.

Take a moment today to send the letter and stand in support of those who remain at risk.

https://mstr.app/19ff9da3-11f4-4172-a942-2d631d3abdb6

03/29/2026

Statement on the Assault Against the Christian Community of Al-Suqaylabiyah, Syria

The events unfolding in Al-Suqaylabiyah —a peaceful Christian city in the Hama countryside in Western Syria—are deeply alarming and wholly unacceptable. Reports indicate that armed groups stormed the city on motorcycles, attacking and desecrating a shrine of Virgin Mary, deliberately spreading fear and terror among its inhabitants. These tactics bear a disturbing resemblance to those employed in previous attacks against civilian communities across Syria.
What makes these events all the more troubling is that they are taking place under the watch of the current interim government's security forces, raising urgent questions about accountability, complicity, and the legitimacy of the current government.
This is not an isolated incident. It follows a well-documented pattern of intimidation and violence directed at Syria's religious and ethnic minorities—first the Alawites, then the Druze, and now Christians. A change in appearance or political label does not alter the nature of extremism, nor does it absolve those who perpetrate or enable it.
There is further cause for concern that these developments are occurring at a moment when international attention is diverted by events elsewhere. With the United States engaged in escalating tensions in the Gulf, the plight of communities like Al-Suqaylabiah risks being overlooked at the very moment it most demands scrutiny.
Regardless of intent, periods of international distraction leave vulnerable populations exposed to greater harm. It is therefore imperative that the protection of civilians remains an unwavering priority, even amid competing global crises.
The international community should not remain silent. Syria's minorities deserve protection, dignity, and the fundamental right to live safely in their own homeland. We call upon all governments, international institutions, and human rights organizations to condemn these attacks, demand accountability, and take concrete steps to safeguard the communities at risk.

03/06/2026

PRESS STATEMENT : FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Alawite American Community Marks One Year Since March 7 Massacre and Urges Vigilant Congressional Oversight of Syria Transition

Washington, D.C. – On the one-year anniversary of the March 7 attack against Alawite communities in western Syria, the Alawites Association of the United States (AAUS) solemnly commemorates the victims of violence that took over one thousand lives. The mass graves, abductions, family fear of retribution and mutilations have made it difficult to accurately capture the number of lives lost, with some human rights monitors claiming substantially more have been kidnapped and killed, violence which continues until this day, despite US diplomatic engagement and lifting oppressive sanctions. Civilian families, including women and children, bore the brunt of targeted killings, forced displacement, and destruction of homes and places of worship.

AAUS stands with the United States Department of State in condemning atrocities committed against Syria’sreligious and ethnic minorities. As the State Department affirmed in its March 9 statement last year, the UnitedStates stands with Syria’s Christian, Druze, Alawite, and Kurdish communities and called on interim authorities toensure accountability for perpetrators.

We must demand that the president of the interim government in Syria, Al-Sharaa, protect minority communities,keeping in mind that the greatest indicator of a country’s ability to thrive is how it treats its ethno-religiousminorities, as laid out in the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. To that end, strengthening local lawenforcement and pursuing thoughtful decentralization may offer the most viable path forward, particularly given therich diversity that has characterized Syria for centuries.

In the days following the massacre, AAUS members and partners gathered peacefully in a two-day conference inWashington, DC to call for immediate international attention and protective measures for civilians at risk. One yearlater, community leaders reiterate that accountability and civilian protection remain prerequisites for any meaningfulpath toward stability in Syria.

As Congress prepares to review the forthcoming Syrian transitional government report due later this month, AAUS urges lawmakers to closely evaluate whether measurable protections for minority communities are beingimplemented on the ground. Additionally, the congressionally mandated State, Foreign Operations, and RelatedPrograms (SFOPS) report expected in May must rigorously assess compliance with human rights benchmarks andminority safeguards as the US evaluates its trust in and engagement with the transitional government.

These oversight mechanisms are particularly critical given the broader sensitivities of the Middle East conflictenvironment, where sectarian violence and geopolitical rivalries risk further destabilization. Sustainable peace inSyria cannot be separated from credible civilian protection, transparent accountability processes, and demonstrableinstitutional reform.

AAUS reaffirms its readiness to provide verified information, survivor testimony, and community perspectives tosupport fact-based congressional oversight. The protection of vulnerable communities must remain central to U.S.policy deliberations during Syria’s transitional period.

02/20/2026

Thrilled to see Ambassador Brownback’s article in the The Wall Street Journal titled “Syria’s Minorities Need American Help: Mistakes in Iraq led to genocide of Christians and Yazidis. Don’t let it happen again.”

“While the international community should continue to work with the al-Sharaa government, the security and education of these minority communities can’t be left solely in the hands of a government that has already allowed massacres to take place. If America looks away, radical elements in Syria will slaughter religious and ethnic minorities that lack independent means for their protection. Their only choices will be to flee, be forcibly converted or die. Most vulnerable are Muslim converts to Christianity. Radical Muslims consider them apostates who deserve death.”

Mistakes in Iraq led to genocide of Christians and Yazidis. Don’t let it happen again.

02/13/2026

We are deeply honored that the Alawites Association of the United States (AAUS) attended the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit in Washington, DC, from February 2–5.

During the summit, AAUS had the privilege of engaging with fellow minority organizations, policymakers, and decision-makers who took the time to learn about the struggles facing vulnerable communities—especially the Alawite community. We were proud to host a booth where we met many thoughtful attendees, shared who the Alawites are, and raised awareness about the atrocities and massacres our community has endured.

We also participated as speakers in panel discussions and were honored to take part in the congressional roundtable event held on February 5. These conversations are an important step toward awareness, accountability, and meaningful action.

This is the video we played at our booth during the conference:

This video shows a timeline of events that took place in Syria since the fall of the dictatorship of Assad regime until January 2026. It is heart breaking to...

02/12/2026

Arrest of Alawite Religious Leaders After Peaceful Demonstrations:

Local sources reported that the arrest of several journalists and religious activists from the Alawite community came after they took to the streets in support of popular demands calling for an end to violence and terrorism against them, and for the implementation of a federal system that would guarantee protection and political rights.

According to eyewitness accounts, armored vehicles and armed forces affiliated with elements loyal to the Syrian ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa—described by local sources as a terrorist—advanced into the villages where the detainees live, carrying out sudden arrest campaigns that targeted well-known journalists and clerics, without presenting arrest warrants or providing clear legal justifications.

These developments have raised serious concerns over enforced disappearance and grave human rights violations, with growing local calls for the immediate disclosure of the detainees' whereabouts and their unconditional release.

The sources added that the detainees were transferred to undisclosed detention facilities amid conflicting reports and complete uncertainty about their fate, with no official statements or clarifications from the authorities in control.

Among those arrested are journalist and activist Aktham Deeb and Sheikh Ali Halhal

**Sheikh Ali Halhal, head of the Alawite Islamic Council in Tartous:
He was arrested during a peaceful demonstration on December 27th, 2025.
He hasn't been released since. His family, particularly his brother, was able to see him once.

**Alawite Activist Aktham Deeb (Abu Lamak) was arrested at his home on 12/30/2025 for saying,
"Alawite blood is not for sale."

**Sheikh Ahmad Habib from Al-‏Qardaha:
Security forces affiliated with al-Jolani arrested Sheikh Ahmed Habib, head of the Supreme Islamic Council in Latakia Governorate, from his home in Qardaha on 12/30/2025.
The arrest was reportedly due to his support for the demonstrations called for by Sheikh Ghazal Ghazal.

**Sheikh Asif Muhanna, Secretary of the Alawite Islamic Council in Tartous, was arrested from his home on 1/5/26:
A group of ten vehicles belonging to the General Security forces raided the village of Beit Talija, near Dreikish, at dawn on Monday, January 5, 2026.
They arrested Mr. Asif Muhanna, the secretary of the Alawite Council in Tartus. Mr. Sheikh Asif is an Arabic language teacher and the imam of his village (Beit Yousef). He was arrested unjustly, without a warrant, without regard for his position or status, and, above all, without having committed any crime.
Mr. Sheikh Asif Muhanna is known for his high moral character and his dedication to serving and helping people.

02/01/2026

Take Action: Urge Congress to Protect Religious Minorities in Syria as AAUS traavels to the IRF Summit in DC this week!

Recent reports show that religious minorities in Syria—particularly Alawites and Christians—are facing renewed violence and persecution following the lifting of U.S. sanctions, despite clear human rights conditions included in the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

Send a Letter to your members of Congress here:

01/30/2026

Want to be a part of important discussions about how to advance international religious freedom?

Join the Alawites Association of the United States this February 2-3 at in DC, where activists, policymakers, advocates, survivors of persecution and leaders in the space will participate in panels, workshops, and breakout sessions covering critical issues in the religious freedom space.

As a proud partner of the Summit, we hope to see you there! Register here: https://irfsummit.org/?utm_source=social&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=partner_2026

The International Religious Freedom Summit (IRF Summit), hosted in Washington, D.C., is the premier annual religious freedom gathering.

01/27/2026

🗞️ Read AAUS' latest op-ed on religious-based violence across Syria following the US' lifted sanctions.

Published by the The Washington Times and written by Dr. Morhaf Ibrahim, president AAUS:

"Last week, after days of violence across Syria, Sen. Lindsey Graham fired off a warning via X to the transitional government in Damascus: “If Syrian government forces continue to advance in the north toward Raqqa, I will push for reimposing Caesar Act sanctions on steroids.” Indeed, recent attacks by Syria fly in the face of the conditions set by the United States to lift the Caesar Act sanctions under the National Defense Authorization Act."

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jan/26/reimpose-sanctions-syria/