Turkey’s support for the Free Syrian Army and its hawkish stance against the Syrian president, an Alawite Muslim, is stirring unrest in its own minority communities. Turkish Alawites of Arab origin who live in the border province are upset with the security situation and look unfavorably on the influx of thousands of Sunni Muslims being given refuge by the Turkish government. Further afield many are unhappy that fighters are allowed to organise and train on Turkish soil.
"It’s as if the government has declared war on Syria. It should immediately stop the transit of foreign mercenaries coming from other regions to fight there. The minority communities in Turkey and Syria are extremely disturbed. Turkey will surely be condemned in years to come because of today’s policies," Dogan Bermek, president of the Federation of Alevi Foundations, told Al-Monitor.
