Umayyad Mosque in Damascus Hit with Mortars

Press Statement

Syrian Coalition

Istanbul, Turkey

December 2, 2013

At least 5 people were killed and around 26 injured on Friday November 29, after a mortar barrage hit the main gate of the historic Umayyad Mosque, in Damascus’s Old City, where people line up in queues to enter the ancient mosque.

Assad’s henchmen and other sectarian mercenaries have damaged nearly 3000 mosques, amongst other holy places of religious and cultural importance, across Syria; most notably the Great Mosque and the Umayyad Mosque in Aleppo.

Pro-Assad sectarian militias hit the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus with a mortar barrage, motivated by the desire for revenge, which these militiamen bring from their countries; and with the aim of discrediting the Syrian Revolution by blaming anti-regime groups for these heinous acts. We have seen this type of behaviour from pro-regime militia in the past, when they targeted churches and schools in the capital centre, and across all of Syria.

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.