Assad’s Shabiha Continue to Target Mosques in Syria

Press Statement

Syrian Coalition

Istanbul, Turkey

December 22, 2013

The Syrian Coalition condemns the targeting al-Omari Mosque in the Wa'er neighborhood of Homs during Friday prayers, on December 20, 2013. The mosque’s Imam Sheikh Safwan Mashareqah and a number of worshipers were killed when Assad’s shabiha pounded the mosque while worshipers were praying to God to save the Syrian people.

“We are talking about a blood-thirsty regime of limitless brutality,” Khalid Saleh, head of the Syrian Coalition Media Office, commented on the crime. Mr. Saleh insists the crime should be dealt with at the highest levels given the position of Sheikh Mashareqah and his contributions to the city of Homs. Mr. Saleh added: “Sheikh Mashareqah did extraordinary relief work in the city of Homs. He did his best to ease the suffering of civilians trapped in the besieged neighborhood of Wa’er.”

Since the start of the Revolution in March 2011, the Assad regime has targeted hundreds of mosques; especially on Fridays, when people go to mosques for the weekly prayer. The Assad regime clearly utilizes this tactic to cause maximum damage.

We ask for Mercy for our martyrs, health for our wounded, and freedom for our detainees.

Long live Syria and its people, free and with honor.