Middle East

Turkey's Alawites support Syria's Assad

Alawite communities in Hatay province still see Assad as Syria's legitimate leader.
Last Modified: 16 Mar 2013 12:09

In Turkey's Hatay province, one can still buy tapestries featuring Syrian President Bashar al-Assad - it could just be a commodity or a sign of unwavering support.

People who live in Antakya and surrounding areas of the province are mainly Alawite - an off-shoot of Shia Islam, the same sect as Assad, and they are worried about the conflict.

They believe the West and their own government are helping extremists to topple a legitimate regime.

Al Jazeera's Omar al Saleh reports from Antakya.

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