Qalb Loze massacre

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Qalb Loze massacre
Part of the
Syrian Civil War
Qalb Loze massacre is located in Syria
Qalb Loze massacre
LocationQalb Loze, Idlib Governorate
Date10 June 2015
TargetDruze
Attack type
Shootout/massacre
Deaths20–24 Druze,
3 al-Nusra Front members
PerpetratorsAl-Nusra Front
Part of a series on
Druze
The Druze Star
Beliefs
  • Ahl at-Tawhid
Important figures
Texts
Holy places
  • Mount Druze
  • Shrine of Shu'ayb
Holy days
History
Druze communities
Related topics

The Qalb Loze massacre was a massacre of

Syrian Druzites on 10 June 2015 in the village of Qalb Loze in Syria's northwestern Idlib Governorate. The village was under the control of a coalition of Islamist rebels, when a Tunisian commander of one group in the coalition, the al-Nusra Front
, tried to confiscate the house of a villager accused of working for the Syrian government.

When the villagers protested, Tunisian al-Nusra fighter Abu Abd al-Rahman Al-Tunisi and his men opened fire on the protesting villagers,[1][2] who were accused of blasphemy.[3] A Nusra fighter claimed the villagers opened fire first.[2] In the end, 20 people, including elderly individuals and a child, were killed. Three al-Nusra members were also killed.[4] Two days later, a report put the number of Druze killed at 24.[citation needed]

Despite claims by al-Nusra that those responsible for the crime would be held accountable,[1] Abu Abd al-Rahman al-Tunisi, the primary perpetrator, remained free for years following the incident. He was ultimately killed in a firefight with Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in 2021 when he was involved in the kidnapping and murder of the education minister of HTS's Salvation Government.[5] Notably, according to the majority of Islamic jurisprudence schools, a Muslim cannot be executed as punishment (Qisas) for killing a non-Muslim (Kafir), even if the non-Muslim holds the status of Dhimmi (a legally protected person). In such cases, only blood money (Diyya) is required as compensation.[6] However, if the victim does not hold Dhimmi status, no Diyya is required to be paid.[7] According to Sunni schools of theology, Druze are generally not considered Muslims.[8]

The massacre sparked widespread condemnation in neighbouring Lebanon, which has a considerable

Sweida assisted the Syrian Army in recapturing an airbase from the Nusra Front.[11] Prior to the Qalb Loze killings, Nusra had forced several hundred Druze to convert to Sunni Islam, as well as being accused of desecrating their graves and damaging shrines.[12][13] On June 22, a group of Druze lynched a wounded Syrian in the Golan Heights who was being transported to Israel for treatment, as they claimed he was a rebel fighter.[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b bassamalahmed (2022-11-24). "Idlib's Druze Complain of Persecution". Syrians for Truth and Justice. Retrieved 2024-12-28.
  2. ^ a b Barnard, Anne (11 June 2015). "Syrian Druse Reconsider Alliances After Deadly Attack". NYT. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  3. ^ "Al-Qaeda Syria branch tries to reassure Druze after shoot-out". AFP. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  4. ^ Al-Nusra Front Kills 20 Druze in Syria Abdel Rahman said some of the villagers had weapons and returned fire, killing three members of Al-Nusra in reaction.
  5. ^ "Murder stalks north Syria's Druze and suspicion falls on Uyghur militants". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2024-12-28.
  6. ISSN 0268-0556
    .
  7. ^ "ماذا يلزم في قتل الكافر خطأ ذمياً أو محارباً". www.islamweb.net (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-12-28.
  8. ^ "Druze in Syria". Archived from the original on 2024-12-15. Retrieved 2024-12-28.
  9. ^ "Killings of Syrian Druze draws wide condemnation". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  10. ^ Lora Moftah (11 June 2015). "Who Are The Druze? Minority Sect In Peril After Syrian Al Qaeda Branch Slaughters Villagers". International Business Times. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  11. ^ "Syrian Druze join battle to push back rebels in south". Yahoo News. 12 June 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  12. ^ "Syria conflict: Al-Nusra fighters kill Druze villagers". BBC News. 11 June 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  13. ^ "Nusra Front kills Syrian villagers from minority Druze sect". thestar.com. 11 June 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  14. ^ "Israel Arrests Several Druze after 'Lynching' of Syrian". Naharnet. Retrieved 27 July 2015.

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