Religions, Beliefs Council condemns repression of protesters in Syrian coast, interior

The Council of Religions and Beliefs in North and East Syria expressed its deep concern regarding the ongoing escalation in the Syrian coast and interior.

This came in a statement issued by the Council on Monday, in which it condemned and denounced the dangerous developments and repressive practices perpetrated by factions affiliated with the Syrian Transitional Government against the residents of the Syrian coast and interior.

The statement noted, "The peaceful popular demonstrations we witnessed in the Syrian coast, calling for freedom and dignity and explicitly advocating for the establishment of a democratic and federal Syria that guarantees the rights of all, are a genuine expression of the will of the Syrian people who yearn for justice."

The statement continued, "However, the response from the forces of the Syrian Transitional Government was brutal and violent, as they met unarmed protesters with live ammunition and intimidation, resulting in the deaths and injuries of peaceful civilians."

The statement added, "This heinous attack" comes within the context of an extremist and exclusionary approach that has manifested itself this year in a series of systematic attacks, including those targeting the Druze community in Sweida, the incitement of fear among Christians following the suicide bombing of St. Elias Church, the attack on the Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, and the attacks and siege imposed on the Kurds in the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood of Aleppo.

The statement further added that these violations also included the horrific massacre of Alawites in the village of Dweir Baabda in the Jableh countryside, which was followed the next day by the treacherous terrorist attack targeting the Imam Ali bin Abi Talib Mosque in the Wadi al-Dahab neighborhood of Homs. It emphasized that this systematic criminal behavior proves that these forces do not believe in Syrian diversity and do not respect the sanctity of Syrian blood, regardless of affiliation.

In its statement, the Council called on the international community to reconsider its policies towards the Transitional Government in Syria and towards the Syrian people in general, demanding that the interests of all Syrians, regardless of their ethnic, religious, or sectarian affiliations, be placed at the forefront of any political or international approach.

The statement also emphasized that the most successful and ideal model of co-existence and fraternity among peoples is exemplified by the current situation in North and East Syria, where diverse ethnic and religious groups live together in love, dignity, and mutual recognition, deeming this model as the true solution to the Syrian crisis.

The Council of Religions and Beliefs in North and East Syria appealed to global public opinion and progressive and democratic forces to uphold their humanitarian and moral responsibilities, and break their silence regarding the crimes committed against peaceful demonstrators and Syrian communities in the coastal region, Homs, Sweida, Aleppo, and throughout Syria.

The statement also called on religious institutions and authorities around the world, especially Christian and Islamic ones, to exert pressure on international decision-making centers to stop supporting or legitimizing this government, which does not express the aspirations of Syrians for freedom and tolerance, but rather contributes to reproducing tyranny in a new form.

J.J

ANHA