Grand Mufti of Syria Sheikh Ahmad Badr Eddin Hassoun |
On October 2, near the University of Ebla in Idlib province, gunmen shot dead the son of the Grand Mufti of Syria Sheikh Ahmad Badr Eddin Hassoun — Saria Hassoun, a student of the university. A victim of the attack also was Professor Mohammad al Omar.
This is not the first crime of this kind. In recent weeks, a series of assassination attempts has been carried out against civilians who actively support a non-violent, negotiating way out of the current crisis, as well as members of their families. Among them are scientists, teachers, other Syrian intellectuals and civil servants.
Moscow strongly condemns these terrorist attacks. We offer our condolences to Mufti Hassoun and the relatives of other victims. We are deeply convinced that the methods of terror as part of a strategy aimed at an armed overthrow of the existing regime in the SAR can only provoke a dangerous stand-off, up to and including a civil war with all ensuing devastating consequences, for both Syria and the entire region.
In this connection we reiterate our appeal to all the constructive forces of the Syrian opposition to dissociate themselves resolutely from the methods of terror and violence and embark on a dialogue with the authorities. We are convinced that only such a course of action can bring fulfillment to the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people for a better future and provide peace, stability and prosperity for their country.
This press release was issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry on 3 October 2011; it is reproduced here for non-profit educational purposes. Cf. “Russia, China Veto UN Resolution on Syria” (RIA Novosti, 4 October 2011).
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