Foreign Policy: This is why the Syrian president accepted the return of his uncle Rifaat to Syria

The Foreign Policy said that, the Syrian president, Bashar al Assad realizes that “appeasement of his Alawite sect is an important step to restore his control over the country after the failure to reach an agreement with the opposition under the supervision of the United Nations”.

The Foreign Policy believes that “Assad is well aware that showing respect for his sect, whose support for him has waned during the deepening economic crisis, may strengthen his goal to suppress dissent within his Alawite sect”.

The Foreign Policy referred to Syrian president, who allowed his uncle, Rifaat al Assad, to return to Syria to avoid a four-year prison sentence in France.

Assad’s move is not generous, but rather comes from his desire to preserve his rule, and it is a step to allow within Assad’s plan to restore control over all of the Syrian soil, and that comes by appeasing the Alawite sect.

Rifaat al Assad maintained some influence in the Alawite-dominated areas of his homeland even while in exile, and that he opposed Assad in power and assumed power after his brother, Hafez al Assad under the constitution.

The Foreign Policy pointed out that Rifaat announced his opposition to his nephew Bashar al Assad after he assumed the presidency in the year 2000, perhaps to ward off corruption charges against himself in the host country or to show Russia that he could be a suitable alternative to Bashar.

Rifaat wasn’t allowed to return until after he swore allegiance to Assad and promised that he wouldn’t participate in any political or social activity.