Syria: Information on government attitudes towards the Muslim Brotherhood and its sympathizers and details on its activities in 1993 and to date
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 March 1994 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | SYR16808.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Syria: Information on government attitudes towards the Muslim Brotherhood and its sympathizers and details on its activities in 1993 and to date, 1 March 1994, SYR16808.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab289c.html [accessed 2 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to Reuters, the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood, which maintains close links with Jordan's Muslim fundamentalists, has kept its operations secret since the 1982 government crackdown on its members and activities (27 Feb. 1994). The Economist states that in the 1970s, the Brotherhood became a serious challenge to the Alawite-dominated regime headed by Hafez Assad, himself a member of the Alawite community, which is considered to be as heretic by Muslim fundamentalists (22 Jan. 1994). On 16 June 1979, 60 Alawite cadets at the Alep Military Academy were killed by members of the Muslim Brotherhood (Documentation- Réfugiés, 3-16 Aug. 1993, 9). In May 1980 the Syrian government adopted Martial Law No. 49, which prescribes the death penalty for those who become members of this organization (ibid.). In 1982 the Muslim Brotherhood fomented a violent uprising against the Assad regime in their stronghold city of Hama (NPR 23 Jan. 1993). In retaliation, the army attacked Hama, killing at least 10,000 people (ibid.). According to Documentation-Réfugiés, as many as 30,000 were killed during the crackdown (3-16 Aug. 1993, 9). Following the 31 December 1991 amnesty, some 600 members of the Muslim Brotherhood were released from jail (ibid.). However, according to Amnesty International, several thousands of militants, relatives of militants and sympathizers of this organization were still detained without charge or judgement (ibid.). For more background information on the Muslim Brotherhood and the predominent Sunni Muslims in Syria as well as on other religious groups, including the Alawites, please refer to the attached documents.
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to
be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Documentation-Réfugiés [Paris]. 3-16 August 1993. Supplement to No. 222. "Répertoire des partis et mouvements islamiques au Proche-Orient," p. 8-9.
The Economist [London]. 22 January 1994. "Syria After Assad." (NEXIS)
National Public Radio (NPR). 23 January 1993. "Syrian Dissidents Wait for Change." (NEXIS)
Reuters. 27 February 1994. BC Cycle. "Syria's Moslem Radicals Condemn Hebron Attack." (NEXIS)
Attachments
Abd-Allah, Umar F. The Islamic Struggle in Syria. 1983. Berkeley, Ca.: Mizan Press, pp. 201-12.
Ayubi, Nazih, N. 1991. Political Islam: Religion and Politics in the Arab World. New York: Routledge, pp. 86-94.
Documentation-Réfugiés [Paris]. 3-16 August 1993. Supp. to No. 222. "Répertoire des partis et mouvements islamiques," p. 8-9.
The Economist [London]. 22 January 1994. "World Politics and Current Affairs." (NEXIS)
The Encyclopedia of Religion. 1987. Vol. 1. Edited by Mircea Eliade. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
The Encyclopedia of Religion. 1987. Vol. 10. Edited by Mircea Eliade. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
Islam and Islamic Groups: A Worldwide Reference Guide. 1992. Edited by Farzana Shaikh. Harlow, Essex: Longman Group UK Limited, pp. 262-63.
Middle East Watch. September 1990. Human Rights in Syria. New York: Human Rights Watch, pp. 15-29.
National Public Radio. 23 January 1993. "Syrian Dissidents Wait for Change." (NEXIS)
Religion in Politics: A World Guide. 1989. Edited by Stewart Mews. Harlow. Essex: Longman Group UK Limited, pp. 262-63.
Reuters. 27 February 1994. BC Cycle. "Syria's Moslem Radicals Condemn Hebron Attack." (NEXIS)
