Murad: We are still far from democracy and freedom in Syria

Olivier Bonel – the Vatican city

“This is a new page in the history of Syria, where we replace injustice for justice.” With these victorious words, the head of the Syrian transition, Ahmed Al -Sharra, the company, on March 13, to a constitutional statement claiming to lay the foundations of the future Syrian state. The previous constitution, which was forged during the Assad regime, was canceled, and the country’s elections were announced within four to five years.

However, after the optimistic exhibition, Syria was again invaded by its ghosts in the early days of March: Nearly 1,600 people were slaughtered in the west of the country, especially in Alauitos strongholds, by the armed forces of the transitional government, with the support of the extremist Islamic factions. A series of violence that restores the country to its recognized sections and affects the promises of the transitional government in a new “comprehensive” Syria.

The distinguished witnesses of these shocks, Monsignor Jack Murad, head of the bishops of Homs, the Syrian Sir, in the center of the country, watched his doubts about the future of the country and spoke in the name of Christians’ concerns.

About 1,600 people were slaughtered in western Syria, towards the coast, especially the members of the Alauita minority. Was this violent explosion expected?

Yes, unfortunately, violence and massacres did not stop. This is really the question of the current government, and above all, believe it. Because for all the Syrian people, there is a big difference between discourse and reality: either they deal or cannot manage the country. This means that this government does not deserve to continue and take responsibility and responsibility for a country like Syria, a country that has never enjoyed a fanatic or fanatic Islam. What is happening in Syria is very harmful to Islam. If Islamophobia is present today in the world, then it is not among the people who hate or tired of Islam, but for these violent acts, these massacres, these faces that have Islam negatively.

Because Islam in its depths is not. We have always lived with Muslims. We have friendship, we have good relationships, we have a good story with them, although there are very difficult and very painful times in our modern memory and even in history. But this saddens me when people talk about Alauís’s massacres on the coast, because they focus on the negative side, but no one talks about the people of Sonita, and the inhabitants of these areas that welcomed and protecting Alauís, their neighbors and friends. It is a shameful and sad thing. We always try to show the downside, evil, and do not appear well. It is a serious problem.

There was also talk about Christian massacres in certain areas of Syria. Can you confirm that?

Yes, this is true, some were slaughtered, about twelve or thirteen people. These are the numbers that you received from reliable sources. Among the victims of all these massacres are also soldiers and security forces for the new government.

A few days ago, the transitional government announced the future constitution of the country. There are positive signs about freedom of expression and the place of women, but there is also anxiety. In particular, the fact that Islamic law follows and must continue to inspire the future constitution. How do you see this constitution? What are your expectations and fears?

I am like the majority of the Syrian people, who do not support this constitution, which was signed by the transitional prime minister. The problem is not that Syria is Islamic, because this is also true. We are all, in the full sense of the word, “Islamic”. Because Islam means birth to God. If this is how Islam is exposed, then I support and proud of it. But the reality is completely different. We cannot accept that the country is governed by Islamic law. This is unacceptable. Because Islamic law does not respect individual freedom. There are many differences between human rights and Islamic law. This cannot be the source of legislation in our country.

What do Syrian Christians expect this new constitution?

Everyone is afraid, they are worried and do not trust this government. Everyone asks whether they should migrate, because in practice we feel strange in our country, people are locked up in their homes. If the transitional government wants to summon Christians, choose the people who suit them, as they did to the constitution; They did not call all Christians. So we are far from democracy and freedom. I cannot say that we want Syria to become a democratic and free country tomorrow, but the problem is that there are no signs that give us hope.

Monsignor Mourad (right) with Gugerotti last January.

For Syrian Christians today, is there no opportunity to approach and join, perhaps to create a platform that combines different societies to further influence the new authorities, or is it difficult?

We worked hard to speak with one voice to this new government. In Aleppo, for example, they already took the initiative. They tried with a joint statement representing all Christians of Aleppo. But elsewhere this was not possible. However, there is a specific atmosphere of harmony between us. But we are trying to organize a Christian conference on the basis of the Singo model, as in the rest of the church in the world. In this context, we all wanted, with the Orthodox and Protestants, organizing this Congress with the secular that could express themselves, so that it was really an opportunity for everyone to express themselves, talk and say things as they think, with respect and freedom.

Unfortunately, this has not been possible yet, because there is no real common will between us to speak with one voice. This is very sad, especially because we have become a small society.

Syria is an economically and socially destructive country, which is a very poor country. What does the international community expect today to help the Syrians recover?

It may not be very good to say this, but I do not have much confidence in the political options of the international community. After everything that happens in Gaza, Palestine, Yemen, Libya, Nigeria, etc. What did the international community do to stop deaths, massacres and wars? What we live today in Syria is due to the lack of responsibility of the international community. I must also mention that Syria is not like other countries. If the international community is seriously in its search for peace, then peace must be achieved first in Syria. Because Syria is the key, the country that unites all countries in Asia and Europe. If we really want to work for a real peace in the Mediterranean basin, as the Pope wants, we must protect Syria and its people, because if we do not, we will become Afghanistan.

Should international sanctions be lifted?

First, you have to clarify the paper. What do the countries that imposed these sanctions want? If it is true that the sanctions were adopted against the family and the Assad regime, which Syria dominated and took the country to this level of misery, if this is the condition, then it has already ended. So why do the sanctions maintain? If you really want Syria to restore peace, the first thing that they have to do is to lift the sanctions, because it is the only way for people to stand.

I repeat, I do not understand why they do not do it immediately, what are you afraid of? Lifting the penalties means returning to work, and returning to places, guarantees people to live in their work. I think we must entrust San Pablo and the Virgin Mary the desire to lift the sanctions. Everyone knows that the sanctions were one of the main reasons for the misery in which the Syrian people live.

What do you think of Syria most of the Syrians need today?

Food, medical care and education are the three main needs to save the Syrians. The fourth is the solution to the housing problem. I do not agree with the idea of ​​implementing reconstruction projects quickly without conducting a comprehensive study first. I pray to God and I call on those responsible for the reconstruction that pays attention to all these aspects. They help us get a good developed country, not half of the development as it is today.