The Hama Massacre, a Terrorism Action in Syria

The Hama Massacre was Syria's regime brutally massacres to it's own people. The government of Syria attacked the town of Hama and killed thousands of people on February 2, 1982. The goal of the attack on Hama was to halt the rebellious activities of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood (Ikhwanul Muslimin). Ikhwanul Muslimin, is a transnational Sunni movement and the largest political opposition organization in many Arab nations. Their goal is to instill the Qur'an and Sunnah as the "sole reference point for ordering the life of the Muslim family, individual, community and state". Syrian goverment in practice dominated by young Alawite Baathists. The Alawite are a sect of Shî'ah Islam that makes up less than 15% of the population. As we know, Sunni-Shia relations ussualy have been marked by conflict. Thats why, Ikhwanul Muslimin instituted activities against Alawite and their Baath Party.

Hama is a city on the banks of the Orontes river in central Syria. Hama is a Sunni Muslim town with about 180000 inhabitants. It is a centre of Sunni conservative puritanism. Hama was also the Ikhwanul Muslimin stronghold. Its driven largely by the merchant community's of Hama. The residents of Hama had been more persistent in their criticisms of the dictator from Baath party than other towns. During the two years, 1980-1981, the city of Hama witnessed several attacks that took the lives of hundreds of religious scholars, prominent people as well as ordinary citizens.

The Hama massacre on February 2, 1982 was the most horrible massacre. It is a crime of humanity against the citizens of the city. Over 25,000 people were murdered by the Syrian goverment. The Syrian army bombarded the town of Hama. Then, Hafez al Assad (Syrian President) sent special forces agents to the city. Their leader was Rifaat Assad, Hafez's brother. Rifaat Assad is generally known as the architect of the Hama massacre. The Hama residents were tortured, raped, robbed, and killed. The victims included women, children and the elderly. According to some statistics, the destruction included most of the ancient districts and buildings, such as archeological sites, mosque and church. To make sure that no person was left alive in the rubble and buildings, Cyanide gas filled the air of Hama.

The Hama massacre was terrorism action to Syrian people. The Syrian regime used weapons of mass destruction "against his own people". But, in Syrian regime concept, Hama's resident were not "his own people". Hama's resident (Sunni followers) were their traditional enemies. Today, the Syrian regime under Bashar al Asaad (Hafez's son) support the Shia terrorist group Hezbollah. Syrian regime also have had a strategic alliance with Iran (predominantly Shia followers).