Alawite Women in Syria Describe Kidnap and Rape After Sectarian Violence

Published: 18 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Several women from Syria’s Alawite minority have shared harrowing accounts of being kidnapped, beaten and sexually assaulted by armed men in the western coastal region, in what survivors and rights groups describe as a wave of gender-based violence and sectarian targeting following the fall of the former government. The distressing testimonies were collected by BBC News Arabic and reflect deep fears among minority communities about security, impunity and the failure of authorities to protect vulnerable civilians.

One teenager, identified as Ramia for her safety, described being taken from her village in Latakia province by three men claiming to be government security forces. She told the BBC that she was beaten repeatedly when she began crying and that her captors insulted her for being Alawite — a minority sect associated with the previous ruling elite. Once detained in a locked room, she tried to escape and even attempted suicide twice, she said, before eventually being released after two days.

Other women told equally distressing stories. Nesma, a mother in her 30s, said she was held for a week in an isolated building with masked men who repeatedly raped her and interrogated her about her village and any links to the former regime. She said her captors referred to Alawite women as “sabaya” — a term historically used by extremists to describe female captives treated as sex slaves.

Another teenager, Leen, endured daily sexual assault and threats at gunpoint, while the parents of other victims reported their relatives were held for weeks and assaulted repeatedly. Families told the BBC that when they reported these kidnappings to the interim government’s General Security Service, officers often mocked them or failed to provide meaningful support or updates, and some even received threats by phone for speaking out.

Advocacy groups such as the Syrian Feminist Lobby have documented more than 80 missing women since early 2025, with at least 26 confirmed kidnappings, primarily of Alawite women and girls. Activists say the victims range from teenagers to mothers, and many cases remain unresolved, creating a climate of fear and insecurity.

Critics argue that insufficient investigations by Syrian authorities and a lack of independent oversight have allowed such abuses to continue, contributing to widespread fear among minority communities that leaving home, attending school or going to work could make them targets. Human rights advocates are calling for thorough, independent inquiries, protection for survivors and urgent measures to prevent further abuses against women and girls in the region.

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