Shia suburbs in Old Damascus turn into Assad stronghold

Most people in Damascus know the influence of "Shiites" in Shaghour and Al-Amin area, and it was aggravated in latest years by the sectarian schools, mosques and centers which educating the Shiite sect principles. 

Some years ago, it was a taboo to speak about religious sections. However, these days people of Al-Shaghour shout loudly: "Save old Damascus from a demographic changing plan”

An old man, Mr. Abo Mohammed expressed his anger from the annoying that security agents caused to him deliberately and he said: “the annoying starts with eating openly in Ramadan and swearing to the holy figures, and they take royalties and taxes of goods from vendors, on a sectarian basis not to mention the sectarian insults”

Ahmad, an activist explains the sectarian practice on the barriers in Al-Shaghour areas saying: “the security people in a form of community committees, know the religious section of most people in the area, because they are Shelties from the same area, and they apply strict rules on Sunni people as they inspect their cars thoroughly and demand to see the water and electricity bills, moreover, royalties are taken from the Sunni owned shops to allow them to pass their goods, and they inspect even women as well.

Old Damascus will become an Iranian province

Amr, another activist goes further as he explains that Al-Shaghour has been divided into parts, and each of them is ruled by a Shiiti Family.

However, the most dangerous issue, according to the activist, is the confirmation of some employees in the Registry Office, that many Iranian names have been transferred to Damascus area. Other workers in the land Registry confirmied that many properties in Old city of Damascus have been transferred to Shiite names and they offer huge price of houses to buy it from Sunni owners.

One employee who refused to say his name said that there is a plan to turn old Damascus into Shiiti area with Christian minority.

 “Another awful practice of security agents in Al-Shaghour is that they control the queue for getting bread from the bakery, and they give bread to people according to their religion, and no one dare to confront this because the prison will be the punishment for saying a word” Ayman, the Bakery worker said.