[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text](for our full article published by The Washington Institute – press on the link below)
Now that the conflict in Syria is entering its final stages, out of the many Syrians who have fled the country over the past seven years some have begun to make their way back on the apparent invitation of the Assad government, mostly from Syria’s neighbor Lebanon. Nevertheless, since it appears that Assad will ultimately win the war, much of the Sunni Syrian population both within and outside of Syria is now worried that the Assad government is attempting to orchestrate demographic changes. Government actions appear designed to tip the balance of power between the country’s different ethnic groups in Assad’s favor by blocking Sunni refugees’ returns to certain strategic areas of Assad-controlled territories. If Sunnis become less than 50 percent of the population, other minorities could create an effective majority that will be able to stand against Sunni Syrian interests. Indeed, if Assad were to succeed in creating a Syria where Sunnis are no longer a majority of the population, he may be able to place increasing pressure on a group that already has tense relationship with Syria’s minorities, and is now in addition blamed by Assad’s supporters for the war.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_btn title=”READ MORE” color=”primary” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtoninstitute.org%2Ffikraforum%2Fview%2Fassads-law-10-reshaping-syrias-demographics||target:%20_blank|”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
