The group emerged in the ' 90s as a criminal gang . Blamed for their participation in the Houla and Qubeir massacres and other assaults , there may be tens of thousands of them , mostly but not all members of the Alawite sect that dominates the government , analysts say . The word might be derived from the name of a Mercedes . Special groups like the Shabiha are gaining in popularity , an analyst says . They used to carry drugs and weapons , but ` ` now they are being used as weapons ''
The group emerged in the ' 90s as a criminal gang . The word might be derived from the name of a Mercedes . Special groups like the Shabiha are gaining in popularity , an analyst says . They used to carry drugs and weapons , but ` ` now they are being used as weapons ''