Karbala, Iraq – In a powerful address at an official conference in the holy city of Karbala, Iraq’s former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has called for urgent intervention to stop the ongoing crimes and atrocities against Muslim minorities in Syria, particularly targeting the Shia population. His remarks come in the wake of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) militant group’s takeover of large parts of Syria following the overthrow of former President Bashar al-Assad’s government.
Maliki, a prominent Shia political figure, highlighted the alarming rise in violence against Shia Muslims in Syria, citing the circulation of “videos of massacres” that depict the brutal oppression faced by the community. “In Syria, followers of Ahl al-Bayt [Shias] have been targeted, and every day we see videos of massacres against them,” he said. “Our brothers in Syria are sending videos pleading, asking: Where are Iraq’s Shias, the Popular Mobilization Forces, Iran, and the tribes?”
The former prime minister described the fall of Assad’s government in December 2022 as a “great sedition” orchestrated by HTS militants, warning that the instability in Syria could have dire consequences for the region, including spillover into Iraq. “They have not only shed blood but also violated people's honor,” Maliki stated. “If we do not stand against it, this sedition will spread even to Iraq.”
Maliki’s call for action follows recent reports of escalating violence against Shia communities in Syria. Earlier this month, militants reportedly killed nearly a dozen civilians in a Shia-populated village in Syria’s central Hama province. Local sources in the Hama governorate confirmed that masked gunmen affiliated with HTS stormed the village of Arza, abducting several residents before executing 15 of them near the Orontes River.
The atrocities have drawn widespread condemnation from human rights organizations and regional leaders, who have accused HTS and other foreign-backed militant groups of committing war crimes and targeting religious minorities. Maliki’s speech underscores the growing concern among Shia leaders about the humanitarian crisis in Syria and the potential for further regional destabilization.
As the international community remains largely silent on the plight of Syria’s Shia population, Maliki’s appeal highlights the urgent need for collective action to protect vulnerable communities and prevent the conflict from spreading beyond Syria’s borders. “The world must not turn a blind eye to these crimes,” he said. “We must stand together to end this suffering.”
The situation in Syria remains volatile, with no immediate resolution in sight. Maliki’s call for intervention reflects the deepening anxiety among regional leaders about the long-term consequences of the Syrian conflict and the need for a coordinated response to address the humanitarian and security challenges it poses.
