An estranged cousin of deposed Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad has sharply criticised Alawite religious leader Sheikh Ghazal al-Ghazal for his calls for federalism and protests in Syria.
In a video statement on Facebook, Rami Makhlouf said that Ghazal and other Alawite religious leaders were putting the minority community in danger.
“Unfortunately, some people are leading us down a very dangerous path; a path of no return. We are being dragged into things that Alawites should never be involved in,” Makhlouf said.
Ghazal had previously advocated a federal system in Syria while calling on Alawites to protest against the new Sunni-led Syrian government with “bare chests”.
Since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, some members of Syrian minority communities have called for federalism and decentralisation but the demand is viewed with suspicion by Syria’s Sunni Arab majority, who fear that it could lead to the breakup of the country.
“What was the result? Some people came out. For example, Sheikh Ghazal appeared with his chest bare. So what does this mean? Should we all perish today, for what? For federalism?” Makhlouf said.
“Today we are talking about federalism, but it is clear that federalism is worthless without a force to protect us,” he added.
Makhlouf called on Alawites to seek the support of Russia, a key backer of the Assad regime, in order to protect their position.
Alawites protested in Latakia and other coastal towns on December 28 against the government, after a deadly bombing at an Alawite mosque in Homs last week which killed eight worshippers.
The protests quickly turned violent, amid clashes with pro-government counter protesters, with four people killed and dozens more injured. The Syrian government blamed remnants of the Assad regime for provoking armed clashes.
Syria’s Alawites, who form roughly 12 percent of the population and are mostly present in Syria’s coastal region, dominated the country under the Assad regime. Assad and Makhlouf are both from the Alawite community.
Sheikh Ghazal Al-Ghazal heads the Supreme Alawite Islamic Council in Syria, which was formed after the Assad regime fell. He has fiercely criticised the current government of President Ahmed Al-Sharaa and is also seen as close to the Assad regime.
Makhlouf previously controlled key sectors of the Syrian economy, amassing billions of dollars in corrupt wealth from state enterprises. He has been sanctioned by the US and the European Union as a result.
In 2020 he fell out with Assad and is believed to have fled Syria, with his current whereabouts unknown.
After the fall of the Assad regime, Makhlouf called for an armed uprising against Sharaa’s new government and previously announced the formation of 15 military divisions to do this.
However, some analysts have interpreted his criticism of Ghazal’s “federalism” demand as an olive branch to Sharaa.