Have you ever wondered what happens when the world turns a blind eye to suffering? In Syria, a chilling crisis unfolds, one that feels ripped from the pages of a dystopian novel yet is horrifyingly real. Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024, reports have surfaced of Alawite women being abducted and forced into sexual enslavement by factions tied to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the former Al-Qaeda affiliate now ruling parts of the country. This isn’t just a story of war—it’s a human tragedy that demands attention.
A Crisis Hidden in Plain Sight
The collapse of Assad’s regime marked a turning point for Syria, but not the one many hoped for. HTS, led by Ahmad al-Sharaa, swept into power, promising stability. Instead, a wave of sectarian violence has targeted minority communities, particularly Alawites, with women bearing the brunt of unimaginable horrors. I’ve always believed that silence in the face of injustice is complicity, and the global response—or lack thereof—feels deafening.
The victims’ silence is not voluntary—it is coerced.
– Human rights advocate
Why does this matter? Because these abductions aren’t isolated incidents. They’re part of a systematic campaign that echoes the atrocities committed against Yezidi women by ISIS a decade ago. The parallels are chilling, and the world’s inaction risks repeating history’s mistakes.
The Alawite Women’s Plight
Since early 2025, reports have trickled out of Syria’s coastal regions, where Alawite communities have faced brutal reprisals. Armed groups, including HTS-affiliated factions and foreign fighters, have targeted women in a spree of kidnappings. These women, often young and vulnerable, are taken to Idlib, a stronghold of extremist control, where they’re forced into sexual servitude or coerced into so-called marriages.
One survivor, speaking under a pseudonym, shared a harrowing account:
They beat us, cursed us for being Alawites. I heard their accents—one local, one foreign. We weren’t allowed to speak.
– Survivor of abduction
These stories aren’t anomalies. Over 100 women have reportedly vanished in a matter of weeks, their families left in anguish. Some receive cryptic messages demanding silence, while others hear nothing at all. The fear is palpable, and it’s not hard to see why. When a mother of two disappears from a bus station or a student vanishes on her way to class, it sends a message: no one is safe.
A Pattern of Violence
The abductions follow a grim pattern. Militants raid Alawite villages, executing men and looting homes before targeting women. The coastal massacres of March 7, 2025, set the stage, with over 1,600 civilians killed in a single day. Women who survived the slaughter were often taken, their fates unknown until activists began piecing together the puzzle.
Here’s what we know about the crisis:
- Mass kidnappings: Dozens of women, including students and mothers, have disappeared since February 2025.
- Idlib’s role: The governorate serves as a hub for trafficking and enslavement, with reports of women held in locked rooms.
- Extremist involvement: HTS, alongside groups like the Syrian National Army, has been implicated in the abductions.
- Global silence: Despite mounting evidence, international response remains muted, leaving victims without recourse.
It’s worth pausing to consider: how does a crisis of this scale go unnoticed? Perhaps it’s easier to ignore suffering when it’s half a world away. But as someone who’s followed these stories, I can’t shake the feeling that we’re failing these women.
Echoes of the Yezidi Genocide
If this sounds familiar, it’s because we’ve seen it before. In 2014, ISIS enslaved over 6,400 Yezidi women in Iraq’s Sinjar region, trafficking them across Syria and beyond. The similarities are uncanny—systematic abductions, sexual violence, and a worldview that dehumanizes entire communities. HTS, born from the same ideological roots as ISIS, appears to be following the same playbook.
Consider this:
| Crisis | Victims | Perpetrators | Outcome |
| Yezidi Genocide (2014) | 6,400+ women enslaved | ISIS | Thousands still missing |
| Alawite Abductions (2025) | 100+ women kidnapped | HTS & allies | Ongoing crisis |
The Yezidi tragedy was marked by disbelief, with many dismissing early reports as exaggerated. Today, we risk the same mistake. Genocide experts warn that denial only emboldens perpetrators, and the evidence in Syria is mounting.
The Courage to Speak Out
Amid the horror, a few brave voices have emerged. Activists, risking their own safety, have shared accounts of the abductions, often facing retaliation. One woman from Idlib described encountering a captive who seemed out of place, her hijab awkwardly draped as if unfamiliar. When she pressed for answers, she learned the woman had been taken from the coast during the March massacres.
Instead of support, the activist faced arrest for “insulting the hijab”—a flimsy pretext to silence her. It’s a stark reminder that speaking truth to power comes at a cost. Yet these stories are crucial, shining a light on a crisis that thrives in the shadows.
This is a serious issue that cannot be ignored. The government must act.
– Syrian activist
Why the Silence?
Perhaps the most troubling aspect of this crisis is the lack of global outcry. When Yezidi women were enslaved, it took years for the world to act. Today, as Alawite women face a similar fate, the response is tepid at best. Is it because Syria’s conflict feels too complex? Or because Alawites, tied to Assad’s regime, are seen as less deserving of sympathy?
I’d argue it’s a mix of both, compounded by fatigue. After years of war, Syria barely makes headlines. But that’s no excuse. These women aren’t statistics—they’re daughters, mothers, sisters. Their suffering demands action, not apathy.
What Can Be Done?
Addressing this crisis requires a multi-pronged approach. Here’s a starting point:
- Raise awareness: Share stories of the abducted women to pressure governments and organizations to act.
- Support activists: Protect those risking their lives to expose the truth, ensuring their voices aren’t silenced.
- Demand accountability: Push for investigations into HTS and its allies, holding perpetrators responsible.
- Provide aid: Fund organizations working to rescue and rehabilitate victims of trafficking and enslavement.
It’s not enough to read and move on. As I’ve learned from covering human rights issues, change starts with awareness. These women deserve to be seen, heard, and saved.
A Call to Action
The crisis in Syria isn’t just a distant problem—it’s a test of our humanity. Will we look away, as we did during the Yezidi genocide, or will we act? The women of Syria, trapped in a cycle of violence and enslavement, can’t afford our silence. Their stories, though painful, are a reminder of the resilience of the human spirit—and the urgent need to protect it.
Let’s not let history repeat itself. Share their stories. Demand justice. And above all, refuse to stay silent.
