Dutch woman released after arrest over hate speech video, remains a suspect
A 26-year-old woman from Wijk en Aalburg has been released from custody after being arrested for her suspected involvement in a video calling for violence against Alawites in Syria. However, she remains a suspect in the case, police confirmed.
The video, which surfaced earlier this week on social media, allegedly shows a young woman calling for Alawites to be killed and thrown into the sea. Police launched an investigation after being alerted to the footage. "We are aware of the video and have taken action," a police spokesperson told Omroep Brabant. Authorities have not disclosed further details about the investigation.
Alawites are a religious minority in Syria, including exiled dictator Bashar al-Assad. The controversy comes amid a surge of violence in western Syria last weekend, where more than 1,000 people were killed, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a U.K.-based monitoring organization. Thousands have fled, with many seeking refuge in Lebanon.
Reports indicate that Alawites have been among the main victims of the recent attacks. However, some human rights organizations have also accused Alawite groups of carrying out killings. The escalation of violence has heightened tensions in the region, with concerns over further targeted attacks raising.
