In the eyes of Sunnis, Alawites are infidels. They are a small minority in the region and are looked down upon by Sunnis. For this reason, Alawites in Syria are currently being slaughtered by Sunni rebels and jihadists. Meanwhile, Turkey and Qatar have opened embassies in Damascus to help stabilize the new regime in Syria. A strictly Islamic regime in Syria serves the political and religious agenda of Qatar and Turkey and strengthens Sunni influence in the Middle East. The slogan seems to be: No more infidels, no more Trinity, no more alcohol! It’s Jihad time!

Sunnis make up the largest branch of Islam, accounting for 88 percent of Muslims worldwide. They emphasize divine unity without any personification and regard Ali as one of noble caliphs. Shiites (10 percent) revere Ali as the legitimate successor of Mohammed. The Alawites, also known as Nusairis, are a religious minority primarily living in Syria but also in Turkey and Lebanon. Although strongly influenced by Shia Islam, this Islamic sect exhibits many unique characteristics.

The prominence of...

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