Monday, April 16, 2012

Will Syria's Sectarian Divisions Spill Over into Turkey?

Will Syria's Sectarian Divisions Spill Over into Turkey?
By Soner Cagaptay
New Republic, April 14, 2012

Should the conflict in Syria turn Sunni on Alawite, Turkish Alevis may find themselves actively opposing any intervention organized by their own government.

Observers of the growing humanitarian crisis in Syria are increasingly worried that the conflict will turn into sectarian struggle, and with good reason: the Assad regime has enjoyed overwhelming support among Syria's minority Alawite population, while the country's Sunni majority is leading the anti-Assad rebellion. But the conflict poses another risk. It may stir sectarian tensions in Turkey, which could, in turn, complicate any international intervention against Assad's regime.

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