ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Calls circulating on social media to boycott members of Syria's Alawite community have sparked widespread debate in recent days, raising concerns about growing hate speech and discrimination, while activists and a government official have rejected the campaign.
The debate has largely centered on the Arabic hashtag #IAmNotATree, which has been widely shared online alongside calls for social and economic boycotts of Alawites. Critics say the slogan is being used to justify exclusion and collective punishment.
Critics also argue that the campaign reflects a continuation of previous practices, including arbitrary dismissals and killings based on identity.
Mazen Mohammed, an Alawite political activist from the coastal city of Jableh, described the campaign as "racist."
"This campaign is racist in its content and reminds us of what Black people and our Palestinian brothers and sisters have been subjected to. We draw attention to the complete absence of any legal or societal action by the de facto authorities to stop this disgraceful behavior, which fuels hate speech against members of an entire sect," he told Rudaw.
Mohammed called for the "immediate halt of this campaign and for justice to be served through the launch of a comprehensive justice process that ensures redress for Syrian victims from all backgrounds and at all times."
Reacting to the campaign, a group of Syrians from different ethnic and religious backgrounds issued a joint statement condemning hate speech and discrimination.
The signatories rejected "any campaign, call, or discourse that seeks to collectively target any Syrian component or hold it responsible for the actions of individuals or specific parties," including calls promoting boycotts, exclusion, or discrimination.
Kurdish politician Jamil Hassan, one of the statement's signatories, argued that the roots of sectarian division stem from the policies of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.
"The former regime contributed to creating divisions among Syrian communities in order to maintain control of all of them," Hassan told Rudaw, adding that years of conflict have deepened social fractures.
Speaking to Rudaw, Omar Haj Ahmad, director general of Syria's Directorate of Press Affairs, said the government rejects "any practices or calls based on discrimination or exclusion on religious, sectarian, ethnic, or regional grounds."
"All citizens enjoy the same rights," Haj Ahmad added, stressing that social cohesion and equal citizenship remain government priorities.
The controversy comes amid ongoing discussions in Syria about the boundaries between freedom of expression and hate speech, with activists calling for greater efforts to protect social peace and prevent discrimination.
Hussein Omar contributed to this article.
