Sectarianism was never a major factor in the Syrians’ identity. It is being thrust upon it with the rise of Daesh and other terrorist outfits, instigated by the Najdi Bedouins and their tribal allies.
Bashar al-Asad, who succeeded his father, Hafez, as president in July 2000, has come under strong attack from Syrian human-rights groups, not only for failing to reform the repressive political and judicial systems he has inherited...