On October 9, 2025, Syria’s coastal region witnessed a mass dismissal campaign targeting employees of the General Company for Spinning and Weaving in the cities of Latakia and Jableh. A total of 234 workers, most of whom belong to the Alawite sect, were dismissed. This decision came just one day after 49 other workers were also dismissed, bringing the total number of terminated employees to 283 within only 48 hours. These measures are part of a systematic policy adopted by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) after assuming power in Damascus, aimed at expelling large numbers of employees and workers from a specific background and replacing them with unqualified personnel.
Documented Information
Date: October 8 and 9, 2025
Location: Latakia Governorate, mainly in the cities of Latakia and Jableh, within the factories affiliated with the General Company for Spinning and Weaving
Victims: 283 workers (234 on the second day + 49 on the first day), the vast majority of whom belong to the Alawite sect
Identity of victims (sectarian/ethnic/religious): Alawite sect
Perpetrating party: Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, the ruling authority in Damascus and the region
Broader context: Acts of sectarian violence and discrimination in Syria have been escalating — including killings and kidnappings — primarily targeting minority groups, following Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham’s takeover of power.
