Final Declaration Highlights Alawite Suffering in Syria and Turkey A final declaration was released following the workshop “Syria and Beyond: Confronting Genocide and Preserving the Memory of Resistance among Alawites”, held on May 18, 2025, in Cologne.
European Alawite organizations condemned the systematic violence against Alawites in Syria and Turkey, describing the recent attacks in Syria as genocidal. The statement called attention to the historical chain of massacres—including Koçgiri, Dersim, Maraş, Çorum, and Sivas—as part of a structural pattern of persecution.
Key points emphasized:
The establishment of a Monitoring and Documentation Center to record crimes against Alawites. The urgent need to raise awareness in Europe about the Alawite plight through media, lobbying, and public campaigns.
The creation of an Alawite Strategy Institute (think tank) to develop policies and narratives. Launching legal and diplomatic initiatives to investigate crimes and hold perpetrators accountable under international law.
A call for international institutions, including the UN and Council of Europe, to take immediate action.
A proposal for a World Congress of Alawites to strengthen global solidarity against oppression. The declaration concluded with a message of resistance, solidarity, and commitment to justice: “We will grow our unity and struggle for humanity—together with our friends across Europe and the world.”
