1) Ethnoreligious group in Asia 
The Alawites, also known as Alawis (ʿAlawīyyah علوية), are a prominent mystical religious group, centred in Syria, who follow a branch of the Twelver school of Shia Islam but with syncretistic elements. Alawites revere Ali (Ali ibn Abi Talib), and the name `Alawi` means followers of Ali. The sect is believed to have been founded by Ibn Nu.....