Syria's government begins to return Alawi lands, while maintaining its hold over others

Syria's government begins to return Alawi lands, while maintaining its hold over others Submitted by Natacha Danon on Mon, 06/01/2026 - 09:09 Displaced Alawi farmers tell MEE that their homes and land have been occupied by Sunni neighbours and administered by a powerful state company called Iktifaa Pistachio trees in full bloom in the northern Hama countryside (Natacha Danon/MEE) Off Ahmed Ali says he was fired from his job as a Syrian civil servant in 2019 for refusing to do his mandatory military service. “I refused to join the army and kill people,” Ali, who is using a pseudonym, told Middle East Eye. After his dismissal, he decided to dedicate himself to his pistachio farm – 150 dunums (15 hectares) of trees in the northern Hama countryside that has been in the family for more than 50 years.