The Great Pretender: How Khaled al-Ahmed Navigated Syria’s Sectarian Divide

Khaled al-Ahmed, a former adviser to Bashar al-Assad, faced significant danger when crossing into Sunni Islamist-controlled territory in Syria. As an Alawite, he belonged to a minority connected to the ruling dynasties, posing a threat to his safety in rebel regions where he could be executed by adversaries.

In the summer of 2021, a man named Khaled al-Ahmed approached a crossing point into rebel-held Syria, bringing with him a sense of trepidation. As a member of the Alawite sect, the same minority group that has provided support for the Assad dynasty for over 50 years, al-Ahmed found himself in a precarious position. Having served as an adviser to Bashar al-Assad until 2018, he was now entering a territory dominated by Sunni Islamist rebels, who would potentially view him as an enemy deserving of execution.

Khaled al-Ahmed’s journey epitomizes the complex realities of a shifting Syrian landscape, highlighting the delicate balance of power between different sects and ideologies. His past as an adviser to the Assad regime juxtaposed with the dangers posed by Sunni Islamist factions underscores the longstanding sectarian divides shaping Syria’s present and future. Ultimately, this narrative serves as a lens through which to view the broader implications of loyalty, survival, and identity in a war-torn nation.

Original Source: www.economist.com