Clerics: destruction of martyr shrines is crime that contradicts Islamic, human values

The crimes of the Turkish occupation and its mercenaries, which contradict humanitarian values, continue to escalate, including acts of murder, kidnapping, and rape, in addition to the destruction of cemeteries and martyr shrines. Occupied areas such as Afrin, Ras al-Ain, and Tal Abyad have witnessed similar assaults.

On April 2nd, social media circulated photos and videos showing the systematic vandalism of the Martyrs' Shrine in Manbij.

This act received angry reactions from the families of the martyrs and the people of the North and East Syria region, who demanded accountability for the perpetrators. Sheikhs and mosque imams in the Raqqa and Tabqa cantons condemned these actions, describing them as cowardly and not in line with Islamic values.

Sheikh Ibrahim al-Owais cited the Holy Quran in his speech: "Repel evil with that which is better." Al-Owais added: "What we have witnessed recently in the destruction of shrines and martyrs' graves during Eid al-Fitr in the Manbij canton is a disgrace. We, as a religious institution, condemn these acts of vandalism, regardless of their origin, as they contradict our noble religion and the Sunnah of our Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him."

He continued, saying: "We are against vandalism, and our religion does not accept such things. The proof of this is that when the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, entered Mecca, he did not destroy the idols but removed them because they touched upon the creed. So how about those who destroy shrines?" Sheikh al-Owais called on the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to take on its responsibilities and stop these operations, affirming that these martyrs have departed to their Lord.

For his part, Sheikh Mahmoud al-Dasouqi, a member of the Ahl al-Bayt Association, condemned the act, saying: "We condemn and denounce this cowardly act, as it is not in line with the morals of Islam and the values of Muslims." He cited the Prophet Muhammad's saying: "Breaking the bone of a dead person is like breaking it while he is alive." al-Dasouqi directed a message to the people of those regions, saying: "We are all Muslims, and our morals and principles, as well as Islam, do not allow such actions. These martyrs defended their land and dignity."

For his part, Adnan Alilwi, head of the Ahl al-Bayt Association Council in al-Tabqa canton, emphasized the importance of adhering to the noble prophetic tradition in treating all creatures. He stressed the necessity of following Islamic values that call for respecting both the living and the dead. Alilwi pointed to the phenomenon of exhuming and desecrating graves, which has become evident since the beginning of the events in Syria, considering these actions a violation of the morals that Islam brought. He condemned these acts, affirming that they are retaliatory actions unrelated to religion or Islamic values, and that such practices were openly carried out during the previous regime.

In his talk about the Manbij canton, Aliwi emphasized that the occupation's transgressions have reached the shrines of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for their homeland and people. He affirmed that respecting graves is a religious and humanitarian duty. He cited the prohibition in the prophetic tradition against walking on or disturbing graves, as the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) forbade harming the deceased in any way and commanded respecting graves as one respects the living.

T/S

ANHA