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Shabeeha (also spelled Shabiha or Shabbiha) (Template:Lang-ar) (from the root Template:Lang-ar "ghost") 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 comprised of thugs close to the regime.”

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 at first 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. Around 2008, a major figure in the shabiha, "Numir Al-Assad," a cousin of president Bashar Al-Assad, was involved in armed robbery of a major currency exchange office in Damascus and was caught on tape. He was not arrested.

In 2011 reports appeared of the Shabeeha attacking and killing protesters during the 2011 Syrian uprising. 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, 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.

Leadership

According to Ahed Al Hendi "in the coastal cities, a militia called Shabiha, headed by Assad’s first cousins, Fawaz al-Assad and Munzer al-Assad,"

References

1. Assad’s Devious, Cruel Plan to Stay in Power By Dividing Syria—And Why It’s Working| Oliver Holmes | August 15, 2011
2. reuters Analysis: Assad retrenches into Alawite power base
3. Arab Centre for Research and Policy Studies Analysis: Assad retrenches into Alawite power base
4. syria revolt, wordpress. who are the shabiha "who are the shabeeha". {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
5. ^ "The Structure of Syria's Repression: Will the Army Break With the Regime?" Ahed Al Hendi. foreignaffairs.com . May 3, 2011
6. Syria: feared militia kills up to 21 people as protests continue
7. Video of Numir Assad armed robbery
8. Syria's President ends state of emergency date? 19 April 2011.
9. staff special to world tribune. "Syrian militia, led by Assad's first cousins, firing heavy weapons against protesters".
10. Syria forces storm border town – witnesses euronews.net 19 June 2011
11. Gul, Gul Tuysuz (21 June 2011). "Syrian men promise to marry women who were raped". The Washington Post.
12. Syrian refugees tell of rape, murder and destruction bbc 23 June 2011

• 2011 Syrian protests
• Organized crime groups in Asia