Shabeeha
Encyclopedia
Shabeeha (from the root "ghost", plural of "shabbih" ), is an Arabic
word used mainly in Syria
roughly translating to thugs
or bullies
. The word has gained international notoriety since the beginning of the 2011 Syrian uprising
, due to its use to describe armed men in civilian clothing who assault protesters against the regime of Bashar Al-Asad. It is widely believed that the shabeeha are hired goon
s of the regime, including some members of the security forces.
They have been described as "a notorious Alawite
paramilitary, who are accused of acting as unofficial enforcers for Assad
’s regime"; "gunmen loyal to Assad"; "semi-criminal gangs thugs close to the regime.” Those identified as Shabeeha include not only local criminal gangs, but "members of the security forces in civilian clothes, informants or simply unemployed and impoverished youths.” The Shabbeha have been active in efforts to repress the 2011 Syrian uprising
and compared to ‘baltajia‘ thugs in Egypt
-- gangs that the regimes threatened with mass demonstrations during the Arab Spring
have "outsourced" repression to.
, Banias
and Tartous
, where they benefit from smuggling through the ports in the area. At first they were mainly involved in smuggling goods from Turkey
or Lebanon
to Syria in the 90's, goods such as motor vehicles (stolen from Lebanon), cigaretts, electronics, arms, gasoline and diesel, and also prostitution. The police reportedly turned a blind eye, and in return Shabbiha would act as a shadow militia in case of need.
According to journalist Adrian Blomfield, the Shabiha "gained notoriety for the brutal way it enforced a protection racket in Latakia
in the 1990s", but had been "ostensibly disbanded" by president Bashir al-Assad after he came to power in 2000. A major figure in the shabiha, "Numir Al-Assad," a cousin of president Bashar Al-Assad
, was has been called a "black sheep" of the Assad family.
. In March Shabeeha reportedly roared through the streets of Latakia
firing at protesters in "cars armed with machine guns," later taking up "sniper positions on rooftops." Up to 21 people were killed. In April, Wissam Tarif, director of the human rights group Insan, said the Shabbiha was operating in Homs, and an anonymous witness said they were to blame for some of the 21 deaths there over the course of two days.
In May, Ahed Al Hendi of the Council on Foreign Relations
reported that "in the coastal cities, [the] Shabiha, ... are armed with heavy weapons and partaking in the violence," "Shabiba joined the Fourth Division and attacked civilians in the cities of Banias
, Jableh, and Latakia
."
In June Witnesses and refugees from the northwestern region say that the shabbiha have reemerged during the uprising and were being used by the Syrian government to carry out "a scorched earthed campaign [...] burning crops, ransacking houses and shooting randomly." There have also been reports of rapes by Shabeeha.
Shabiha were also involved in fighting and assaulting unarmed protesters in Damascus neighborhood of Midan each Friday after Jumm'a prayer.
, has been quoted as saying that "most Syrians view" the Shabeeha as "operating without any known organization or leadership."
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
word used mainly in Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
roughly translating to thugs
Thug
- People :* Thug, a common criminal, who treats others violently and roughly, often for hire* Thug, proper noun, a member of the former Indian cult Thuggee* Thug Behram, a leader of the Thuggee cult- Miscellaneous :...
or bullies
Bully
Bullying is a form of aggressive behavior manifested by the use of force or coercion to affect others, particularly when the behavior is habitual and involves an imbalance of power...
. The word has gained international notoriety since the beginning of the 2011 Syrian uprising
2011 Syrian uprising
The 2011 Syrian uprising is an ongoing internal conflict occurring in Syria. Protests started on 26 January 2011, and escalated into an uprising by 15 March 2011...
, due to its use to describe armed men in civilian clothing who assault protesters against the regime of Bashar Al-Asad. It is widely believed that the shabeeha are hired goon
Goon
A goon is someone that is employed as someone's personal enforcer, such as either a personal bodyguard or a ruffian who is kept on staff to intimidate or assault people.Goon may also refer to:*A performer in The Goon Show...
s of the regime, including some members of the security forces.
They have been described as "a notorious Alawite
Alawite
The Alawis, also known as Alawites, Nusayris and Ansaris are a prominent mystical and syncretic religious group centred in Syria who are a branch of Shia Islam.-Etymology:...
paramilitary, who are accused of acting as unofficial enforcers for Assad
Bashar al-Assad
Bashar al-Assad is the President of Syria and Regional Secretary of the Ba'ath Party. His father Hafez al-Assad ruled Syria for 29 years until his death in 2000. Al-Assad was elected in 2000, re-elected in 2007, unopposed each time.- Early Life :...
’s regime"; "gunmen loyal to Assad"; "semi-criminal gangs thugs close to the regime.” Those identified as Shabeeha include not only local criminal gangs, but "members of the security forces in civilian clothes, informants or simply unemployed and impoverished youths.” The Shabbeha have been active in efforts to repress the 2011 Syrian uprising
2011 Syrian uprising
The 2011 Syrian uprising is an ongoing internal conflict occurring in Syria. Protests started on 26 January 2011, and escalated into an uprising by 15 March 2011...
and compared to ‘baltajia‘ thugs in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
-- gangs that the regimes threatened with mass demonstrations during the Arab Spring
Arab Spring
The Arab Spring , otherwise known as the Arab Awakening, is a revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protests occurring in the Arab world that began on Saturday, 18 December 2010...
have "outsourced" repression to.
History
The Shabeeha is said to have been started by nephews of the late president Hafez Assad (Fawaz, Numir, Munther, Sumar, Siwar, Munther) and was concentrated in the Mediterranean region of Syria around LatakiaLatakia
Latakia, or Latakiyah , is the principal port city of Syria, as well as the capital of the Latakia Governorate. In addition to serving as a port, the city is a manufacturing center for surrounding agricultural towns and villages...
, Banias
Banias
Banias is an archaeological site by the ancient city of Caesarea Philippi, located at the foot of Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights...
and Tartous
Tartous
Tartus is a city on the Mediterranean coast of Syria. Tartus is the second largest port city in Syria , and the largest city in Tartus Governorate. The population size is 98,000 .- Geography and climate :...
, where they benefit from smuggling through the ports in the area. At first they were mainly involved in smuggling goods from Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
or Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
to Syria in the 90's, goods such as motor vehicles (stolen from Lebanon), cigaretts, electronics, arms, gasoline and diesel, and also prostitution. The police reportedly turned a blind eye, and in return Shabbiha would act as a shadow militia in case of need.
According to journalist Adrian Blomfield, the Shabiha "gained notoriety for the brutal way it enforced a protection racket in Latakia
Latakia
Latakia, or Latakiyah , is the principal port city of Syria, as well as the capital of the Latakia Governorate. In addition to serving as a port, the city is a manufacturing center for surrounding agricultural towns and villages...
in the 1990s", but had been "ostensibly disbanded" by president Bashir al-Assad after he came to power in 2000. A major figure in the shabiha, "Numir Al-Assad," a cousin of president Bashar Al-Assad
Bashar al-Assad
Bashar al-Assad is the President of Syria and Regional Secretary of the Ba'ath Party. His father Hafez al-Assad ruled Syria for 29 years until his death in 2000. Al-Assad was elected in 2000, re-elected in 2007, unopposed each time.- Early Life :...
, was has been called a "black sheep" of the Assad family.
2011 Syrian uprising
In 2011 reports appeared of the Shabeeha attacking and killing protesters during the 2011 Syrian uprising2011 Syrian uprising
The 2011 Syrian uprising is an ongoing internal conflict occurring in Syria. Protests started on 26 January 2011, and escalated into an uprising by 15 March 2011...
. In March Shabeeha reportedly roared through the streets of Latakia
Latakia
Latakia, or Latakiyah , is the principal port city of Syria, as well as the capital of the Latakia Governorate. In addition to serving as a port, the city is a manufacturing center for surrounding agricultural towns and villages...
firing at protesters in "cars armed with machine guns," later taking up "sniper positions on rooftops." Up to 21 people were killed. In April, Wissam Tarif, director of the human rights group Insan, said the Shabbiha was operating in Homs, and an anonymous witness said they were to blame for some of the 21 deaths there over the course of two days.
In May, Ahed Al Hendi of the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
reported that "in the coastal cities, [the] Shabiha, ... are armed with heavy weapons and partaking in the violence," "Shabiba joined the Fourth Division and attacked civilians in the cities of Banias
Banias
Banias is an archaeological site by the ancient city of Caesarea Philippi, located at the foot of Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights...
, Jableh, and Latakia
Latakia
Latakia, or Latakiyah , is the principal port city of Syria, as well as the capital of the Latakia Governorate. In addition to serving as a port, the city is a manufacturing center for surrounding agricultural towns and villages...
."
In June Witnesses and refugees from the northwestern region say that the shabbiha have reemerged during the uprising and were being used by the Syrian government to carry out "a scorched earthed campaign [...] burning crops, ransacking houses and shooting randomly." There have also been reports of rapes by Shabeeha.
Shabiha were also involved in fighting and assaulting unarmed protesters in Damascus neighborhood of Midan each Friday after Jumm'a prayer.
Leadership
According to Ahed Al Hendi "in the coastal cities", the Shabeeha is "headed by Assad’s first cousins, Fawaz al-Assad and Munzer al-Assad." Another source, Mahmoud Merhi, head of the Arab Organization for Human RightsArab Organization for Human Rights
The Arab Organization for Human Rights is a Non Governmental Organization , founded with a resolution agreed on in Hammamet, Tunisia, in 1983. Its general Assembly is held every three years, while the Board of Trustees meets annually, and consists of 25 members...
, has been quoted as saying that "most Syrians view" the Shabeeha as "operating without any known organization or leadership."