Reham Hammouda lived in the Al-Walid neighbourhood of Homs, Syria. She was a schoolteacher and a mother of two children, as well as a member of the Alawite community.
On the evening of 25 October 2025, Reham was killed by an unknown assailant on a motorbike who threw a hand grenade at her family home. Her relative, Sarah Mouhammad Hamidoush, was severely injured.
Local residents complained to our sources about a lack of action from the police, who could not identify the assailant. Some accused the police and local authorities in Homs of being complicit in attacks targeting the Alawite minority.
We extend heartfelt condolences to Reham’s family and loved ones. Please join us in praying for perpetrators to be brought to justice, and an end to the tragic wave of sectarian violence across Syria.
Facts and stats:
- 57people died in similar attacks in October 2025, with 19 of these occurring in Homs. A child was among the victims.
- 118 Alawites have been killed since the beginning of 2025.
Source: Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (October 2025)
Who are the Alawite community?
The Alawites are a religious minority in Syria. They make up approximately 10% of Syria’s population, while the majority of the country is Sunni Muslim. The ousted Syrian president (Bashar al Assad) was an Alawite.
CSW has interviewed many families in Homs who reported that sectarian bullying has become more common in schools and workplaces.
Powerful fireworks are frequently thrown at children’s playgrounds and at women walking along the street. Some children told us that they were forced to bark and crawl by other children because they are Alawites.