1964 Hama riot
Encyclopedia
1964 Hama riot was the first significant clash between the newly installed Ba'ath party leadership of Syria and the Islamic Brotherhood. It occurred in April 1964, shortly after the 1963 Ba'athist coup d'état. The insurrection was suppressed with heavy military force, resulting in 70-100 mortal casualties and partial destruction of the old Hama city neighbourhoods. The city of Hama
continued to be a center of Islamists and a focal point of the 1976-1982 Islamic uprising in Syria
.
. From the start, Islamic political groups, of which the Brotherhood was the most prominent, represented the strongest opposition to the new regime. The outlawing of Brotherhood in 1964 resulted in its radicalization. In 1964 and 1965, strikes
and mass demonstrations
spread throughout Syria's major cities, especially in Hama
, and were crushed by the military. The town of Hama in particular was a "stronghold of landed conservatism and of the Muslim Brothers," and "had long been a redoubtable opponent of the Ba'athist state."
, where Muslim insurgents put up "roadblocks, stockpiled food and weapons, ransacked wine shops." After an Ismaili
Ba'ath militia man was killed, riots intensified and rebels attacked "every vestige" of the Ba'ath party in Hama
. Tanks were brought in to crush the uprising and some 70-100 members of the Muslim Brotherhood died, with many others wounded or captured, and still more disappearing underground. The Syrian government sent forces into the quarters of Hama's old city to put down the insurrection, resulting in wide scale destruction.
. Hama has suffered a major massacre
in April 1981, with hundreds of killed, however the situation went out of control in early February 1982, when Islamic groups took the city. In the military operation by the Syrian Army the city was almost destroyed and tens of thousands of Hama's citizens were killed.
Some three decades later, in the 2011 Syrian uprising
, Muslim Sunni groups, related to the Muslim Brotherhood
, were also blamed for flaring the uprising and taking an active part in the uprising. The city of Hama turned into a cite of another massacre in July-August 2011, following the events of the Hama blockade.
Hama
Hama is a city on the banks of the Orontes River in west-central Syria north of Damascus. It is the provincial capital of the Hama Governorate. Hama is the fourth-largest city in Syria—behind Aleppo, Damascus, and Homs—with a population of 696,863...
continued to be a center of Islamists and a focal point of the 1976-1982 Islamic uprising in Syria
Islamic uprising in Syria
The Islamic uprising in Syria was a series of revolts and armed insurgency by Sunni Islamists, mainly members of the Muslim Brotherhood from 1976 until 1982. The uprising was aimed against the authority of the Ba'ath Party-controlled government of Syria, in what has been called "long campaign of...
.
Background
The first clash between the Ba'ath party and the Islamic Brotherhood occurred shortly after the 1963 coup, in which the Ba'ath party gained power in SyriaSyria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
. From the start, Islamic political groups, of which the Brotherhood was the most prominent, represented the strongest opposition to the new regime. The outlawing of Brotherhood in 1964 resulted in its radicalization. In 1964 and 1965, strikes
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
and mass demonstrations
Demonstration (people)
A demonstration or street protest is action by a mass group or collection of groups of people in favor of a political or other cause; it normally consists of walking in a mass march formation and either beginning with or meeting at a designated endpoint, or rally, to hear speakers.Actions such as...
spread throughout Syria's major cities, especially in Hama
Hama
Hama is a city on the banks of the Orontes River in west-central Syria north of Damascus. It is the provincial capital of the Hama Governorate. Hama is the fourth-largest city in Syria—behind Aleppo, Damascus, and Homs—with a population of 696,863...
, and were crushed by the military. The town of Hama in particular was a "stronghold of landed conservatism and of the Muslim Brothers," and "had long been a redoubtable opponent of the Ba'athist state."
April 1964 in Hama
In April 1964 riots broke out in HamaHama
Hama is a city on the banks of the Orontes River in west-central Syria north of Damascus. It is the provincial capital of the Hama Governorate. Hama is the fourth-largest city in Syria—behind Aleppo, Damascus, and Homs—with a population of 696,863...
, where Muslim insurgents put up "roadblocks, stockpiled food and weapons, ransacked wine shops." After an Ismaili
Ismaili
' is a branch of Shia Islam. It is the second largest branch of Shia Islam, after the Twelvers...
Ba'ath militia man was killed, riots intensified and rebels attacked "every vestige" of the Ba'ath party in Hama
Hama
Hama is a city on the banks of the Orontes River in west-central Syria north of Damascus. It is the provincial capital of the Hama Governorate. Hama is the fourth-largest city in Syria—behind Aleppo, Damascus, and Homs—with a population of 696,863...
. Tanks were brought in to crush the uprising and some 70-100 members of the Muslim Brotherhood died, with many others wounded or captured, and still more disappearing underground. The Syrian government sent forces into the quarters of Hama's old city to put down the insurrection, resulting in wide scale destruction.
Aftermath
In early 1980s, the city of Hama became the epicenter of the Islamic uprisingIslamic uprising in Syria
The Islamic uprising in Syria was a series of revolts and armed insurgency by Sunni Islamists, mainly members of the Muslim Brotherhood from 1976 until 1982. The uprising was aimed against the authority of the Ba'ath Party-controlled government of Syria, in what has been called "long campaign of...
. Hama has suffered a major massacre
April 1981 Hama massacre
The April 1981 Hama massacre occurred after a failed terrorist attack on an Alawite village near Hama. In return, the Syria army killed about 400 of the terrorists who attempted the attack.-Background:...
in April 1981, with hundreds of killed, however the situation went out of control in early February 1982, when Islamic groups took the city. In the military operation by the Syrian Army the city was almost destroyed and tens of thousands of Hama's citizens were killed.
Some three decades later, in the 2011 Syrian uprising
2011 Syrian uprising
The 2011 Syrian uprising is an ongoing internal conflict occurring in Syria. Protests started on 26 January 2011, and escalated into an uprising by 15 March 2011...
, Muslim Sunni groups, related to the Muslim Brotherhood
Muslim Brotherhood
The Society of the Muslim Brothers is the world's oldest and one of the largest Islamist parties, and is the largest political opposition organization in many Arab states. It was founded in 1928 in Egypt by the Islamic scholar and schoolteacher Hassan al-Banna and by the late 1940s had an...
, were also blamed for flaring the uprising and taking an active part in the uprising. The city of Hama turned into a cite of another massacre in July-August 2011, following the events of the Hama blockade.
See also
- Human rights in SyriaHuman rights in SyriaHuman rights in Syria have been described as "poor". Since 1963, emergency rule has remained in effect which gives security forces sweeping powers of arrest and detention....
- 2011 Syrian uprising2011 Syrian uprisingThe 2011 Syrian uprising is an ongoing internal conflict occurring in Syria. Protests started on 26 January 2011, and escalated into an uprising by 15 March 2011...
- List of modern conflicts in the Middle East