COMMON ANALYSIS
Last update: June 2025
The analysis below is primarily based on the following EUAA COI reports: Targeting 2022, 9; Targeting 2020, 10.3.4. Country Guidance should not be referred to as a source of COI. The section below should be read in conjunction with most recent COI available at the time of the examination.
Sunni Arabs had been subjected to persecution (e.g. arrest, torture, execution) and discrimination by the Assad regime, the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) and Jaysh al-Islam. As mentioned above, the risk related to the Assad regime has vanished. ISIL and Jaysh al-Islam are still present and operating and there is no information available indicating that their approach towards Sunni Arabs who do not adhere to their interpretation of the Sharia has changed.
While HTS also had targeted Sunni Muslims who did not adhere to their interpretation of the Sharia, most of the Transitional Administration’s high-level positions have been filled by Sunni Arabs and there is, at the time of writing, no specific information as to the treatment by the Transitional Administration of Sunni Muslims who would not adhere to the same interpretation of the Sharia. Also, there are no reports on targeted attacks by any actor against Sunni Arabs for the mere fact of being Sunni Arabs.
Therefore, it can be concluded that:
The mere fact of being a Sunni Arab does not in itself lead to the level of risk required to establish well-founded fear of persecution. Should a Sunni Arab be targeted, it would be related to other circumstances. For example, the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL), and Jaysh al-Islam (armed group affiliated to the SNA) have targeted Sunnis Muslims who do not adhere to their interpretation of the Sharia.
The individual assessment should take into account risk-impacting circumstances, such as the regional specifics (e.g. living in areas where ISL and Jaysh al-Islam have operational capacity).
Where well-founded fear of persecution is substantiated for an applicant under this profile, it may be for reasons of religion.
See other topics concerning 'Profiles at risk of persecution from multiple actors (including previously the Assad regime):