Editing Persecution (section)

===Druze===
[[File:Qalb Lauzeh - GAR - 11-001.JPG|thumb|[[Qalb Loze]]: in June 2015, Druze were [[Qalb Loze massacre|massacred there]] by the [[jihadist]] [[Nusra Front]].<ref name="AFP">[https://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2012/Sep-08/187193-syria-druze-back-sunnis-revolt-with-words-but-not-arms.ashx Syria Druze back Sunnis' revolt with words but not arms]. [[Agence France-Presse]]. 2012-09-08.</ref>]]
Historically the relationship between the [[Druze]] and [[Muslims]] has been characterized by intense persecution.<ref>{{cite book|title=Historical Dictionary of the Druzes| first=Samy|last=Swayd|year= 2015| isbn= 9781442246171| page = 132|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|quote= Some Muslim rulers and jurists have advocated the persecution of members of the Druze Movement beginning with the seventh Fatimi Caliph Al-Zahir, in 1022. Recurring period of persecutions in subsequent centuries ... failure to elucidate their beliefs and practices, have contributed to the ambiguous relationship between Muslims and Druzes}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Conflict in the Modern Middle East: An Encyclopedia of Civil War, Revolutions, and Regime Change| first=Jonathan|last= K. Zartman|year= 2020| isbn=9781440865039| page = 199|publisher=ABC-CLIO|quote= Historically, Islam classified Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians as protected “People of the Book,” a secondary status subject to payment of a poll tax. Nevertheless, Zoroastrians suffered significant persecution. Other religions such as the Alawites, Alevis, and Druze often suffered more.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Marriage, Divorce, and Succession in the Druze Family: A Study Based on Decisions of Druze Arbitrators and Religious Courts in Israel and the Golan Heights| first=Aharôn|last= Layiš|year= 1982| isbn=9789004064126| page = 1|publisher=BRILL|quote= the Druze religion, though originating from the Isma'lliyya, an extreme branch of the Shia, seceded completely from Islam and has, therefore, experienced periods of persecution by the latter.}}</ref> The [[Druze]] faith is often classified as a branch of [[Isma'ili]]. Even though the faith originally developed out of [[Ismaili Islam]], most [[Druze]] do not identify as [[Muslims]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Are the Druze People Arabs or Muslims? Deciphering Who They Are |url=https://www.arabamerica.com/are-the-druze-people-arabs-or-muslims-deciphering-who-they-are/ |website=Arab America |access-date=13 April 2020 |language=en |date=8 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Middle East Today: Political, Geographical and Cultural Perspectives| first=Dona|last= J. Stewart|year=2008| isbn=9781135980795| page = 33|publisher=Routledge|quote= Most Druze do not consider themselves Muslim. Historically they faced much persecution and keep their religious beliefs secrets.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Oxford Handbook of American Islam| first=Yvonne |last=Yazbeck Haddad|year=2014| isbn=9780199862634| page = 142|publisher=Oxford University Press|quote=While they appear parallel to those of normative Islam, in the Druze religion they are different in meaning and interpretation. The religion is considered distinct from the Ismaili as well as from other Muslims belief and practice... Most Druze consider themselves fully assimilated in American society and do not necessarily identify as Muslims..}}</ref> and they do not accept the [[Five Pillars of Islam|five pillars of Islam]].<ref>{{cite book|title= The Political Role of Minority Groups in the Middle East|first=Ronald|last= De McLaurin|year= 1979| isbn= 9780030525964| page =114 |publisher=Michigan University Press|quote= Theologically, one would have to conclude that the Druze are not Muslims. They do not accept the five pillars of Islam. In place of these principles the Druze have instituted the seven precepts noted above..}}</ref> The [[Druze]] have frequently experienced persecution by different Muslim regimes such as the [[Shia]] [[Fatimid Caliphate]],<ref>{{cite book|title=The Druze between Palestine and Israel 1947–49| first=L.|last=Parsons|year= 2000| isbn= 9780230595989| page = 2|publisher=Springer|quote= With the succession of al-Zahir to the Fatimid caliphate a mass persecution (known by the Druze as the period of the ''mihna'') of the Muwaḥḥidūn was instigated ... }}</ref> [[Mamluk]],{{Sfn |Hitti |1924}} [[Sunni]] [[Ottoman Empire]],<ref>{{cite book|title=Middle East Conflicts from Ancient Egypt to the 21st Century: An Encyclopedia and Document Collection [4 volumes]| first=Spencer C. |last= C. Tucker|year= 2019| isbn= 9781440853531| pages = 364–366|publisher=ABC-CLIO}}</ref> and [[Egypt Eyalet]].<ref>Taraze Fawaz, Leila. ''An occasion for war: civil conflict in Lebanon and Damascus in 1860''. p.63.</ref><ref name=goren>Goren, Haim. ''Dead Sea Level: Science, Exploration and Imperial Interests in the Near East.'' p.95-96.</ref> The persecution of the Druze included [[massacre]]s, demolishing Druze prayer houses and holy places and [[forced conversion]] to Islam.<ref>{{cite book|title=Middle East Conflicts from Ancient Egypt to the 21st Century: An Encyclopedia and Document Collection [4 volumes]| first=Spencer C. |last= C. Tucker|year= 2019| isbn= 9781440853531| page = 364|publisher=ABC-CLIO}}</ref> Those were no ordinary killings in the Druze's narrative, they were meant to eradicate the whole community according to the Druze narrative.<ref>{{cite book|title= Middle Eastern Minorities: The Impact of the Arab Spring|first=Ibrahim|last=Zabad|year= 2017| isbn= 9781317096726|publisher=Routledge}}</ref> Most recently, the [[Syrian Civil War]], which began in 2011, saw persecution of the Druze at the hands of [[Islamic extremism|Islamic extremists]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-33092902|title=Syria conflict: Al-Nusra fighters kill Druze villagers|work=BBC News|date=11 June 2015 |access-date=27 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2015/06/11/nusra-front-kills-syrian-villagers-from-minority-druze-sect.html|title=Nusra Front kills Syrian villagers from minority Druze sect|date=11 June 2015|work=thestar.com|access-date=27 July 2015}}</ref>

[[Ibn Taymiyya]] a prominent [[Muslims|Muslim]] [[scholar]] [[muhaddith]], dismissed the Druze as non-Muslims,<ref>{{cite book|title= Religious Minorities in the Middle East: Domination, Self-Empowerment, Accommodation|first=Anne Sofie|last= Roald|year= 2011| isbn= 9789004207424| page =255|publisher=BRILL|quote= Therefore, many of these scholars follow Ibn Taymiyya'sfatwa from the beginning of the fourteenth century that declared the Druzes and the Alawis as heretics outside Islam ...}}</ref> and his [[fatwa]] cited that Druzes: "Are not at the level of ′Ahl al-Kitāb ([[People of the Book]]) nor [[Shirk (Islam)|mushrikin]] ([[polytheist]]s). Rather, they are from the most deviant kuffār ([[Infidel]]) ... Their women can be taken as slaves and their property can be seized ... they are to be killed whenever they are found and cursed as they described ... It is obligatory to kill their scholars and religious figures so that they do not misguide others",<ref>{{cite book|title= Middle Eastern Minorities: The Impact of the Arab Spring|first=Ibrahim |last=Zabad|year= 2017| isbn=9781317096733| page =126|publisher=Taylor & Francis}}</ref> which in that setting would have legitimized violence against them as [[Apostasy in Islam|apostates]].<ref>{{cite book|title= Journey to the End of Islam|first=Michael |last=Knight|year= 2009| isbn= 9781593765521| page =129 |publisher=Soft Skull Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title= The A to Z of the Druzes|first=Samy|last=S. Swayd|year= 2009| isbn= 9780810868366| page =37 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|quote= Subsequently, Muslim opponents of the Druzes have often relied on Ibn Taymiyya's religious ruling to justify their attitudes and actions against Druzes...}}</ref> [[Ottoman Turks|Ottomans]] have often relied on Ibn Taymiyya religious ruling to justify their persecution of [[Druze]].<ref>{{cite book|title= The Druzes: An Annotated Bibliography|first=Samy|last= S. Swayd|year= 2009| isbn= 9780966293203| page =25 |publisher=University of Michigan Press}}</ref>