The killing of the young man Ali Bassam Tamer in front of his home in the countryside of Damascus amid an escalation of violations against members of the Alawite sect
The young man Ali Bassam Tamer, a civilian from the Alawite sect, was killed at approximately eleven o’clock in the evening on 31 December 2025, after two gunmen opened fire on him in front of the door of his home in the Masaken al-Dimas area in the countryside of Damascus.
According to activists, two gunmen knocked on the victim’s door and claimed that the young man was “wanted.” When he opened the door, they shot him directly, leading to his immediate death inside his home. Available information indicates that the crime occurred due to his sectarian affiliation.
The killing of Ali Bassam Tamer comes within a broader context of violations targeting members of the Alawite sect during the same period, particularly in the cities of the Syrian coast and the western regions of the country, against the backdrop of peaceful demonstrations that took place in those areas in late December 2025.
Cases of killing were documented during the demonstrations of 28 December 2025 – Latakia city:
Nour Badr Ghirra
Haidar Mulla
Zain al-Abidin Azzam Hussein
Haidar Saji‘ Rabee‘
Subsequent cases of killing linked to the same context include Yusuf Hossam Daoud, where circulated video clips showed supporters of the authorities stopping Yusuf Hossam Daoud’s car as he was returning to his home. Later information reported that he was killed as a result of being shot during this attack.
Cities along the Syrian coast and in the western regions of the country witnessed, on Sunday 28 December 2025, demonstrations in which members of the Alawite sect participated. These included the cities of Latakia, Tartous, Jableh, Baniyas, and al-Qardaha, in addition to the city of Homs and its countryside, and areas in the countryside of Hama.
According to circulated video clips and local testimonies, there were killed and wounded as a result of gunfire against demonstrators by the General Security forces affiliated with the temporary authority “Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham,” in addition to attacks carried out by supporters of the authorities to disperse the gatherings. These included setting up security checkpoints and cutting off roads in a number of cities and neighborhoods.
Cases of arrest of dozens of citizens from the Alawite sect were also recorded in the days following the demonstrations, in Latakia, Tartous, Jableh, Homs, and other areas in western Syria.
