War of words breaks out in Syrian opposition ranks

A serious war of words has broken out in the open among the topmost political echelons of the Syrian opposition.

The Syrian National Council (SNC) today publicly challenged a statement made overnight by Moaz el-Khatib, head of the Syrian National Coalition of Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, of which the SNC is the main component.

The SNC’s current chairman George Sabra is also vice-president of the Coalition.

The overt controversy broke out soon after Moaz el-Khatib posted overnight a statement on his personal Facebook page saying:

“I learned through the mass media the regime in Syria wants to open a dialogue with the opposition and the interior minister is inviting opposition leaders to return to Damascus.  

“Frankly, there’s no trust in a regime that kills children, attacks breadlines, bombs universities, destroys Syria’s infrastructure and commits gruesome massacres such as its latest in Aleppo, which is unparalleled in its savagery.

“The revolution goes on and time-wasting is over. But since the Syrian citizen is in such an unprecedented crisis -- and as a sign of goodwill in the quest for a political solution and in order to pave the way for a transition stage that would spare added bloodshed – I declare that I am prepared to sit face to face with Syrian regime representatives in Cairo or Tunis or Istanbul.

“Since the Syrian people’s freedom is non-negotiable, my preliminary condition to sit with regime representatives is:

“1. The release of 160,000 detainees, starting with the females and those held by Air Force Intelligence and in Sednaya prison, and

‘2. A directive to all regime embassies to either issue new passports to all Syrians whose passports have expired or extend for two years the validity of their existing ones.”

The SNC retorted today through an official statement posted in turn on its own Facebook page saying:

“Reference the remarks of Sheikh Ahmed Moaz el-Khatib, head of the Syrian National Coalition of Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, in which he mentions a conditional offer for negotiations with the Syrian regime, the SNC affirms that the remarks do not express the SNC position and are incompatible with the National Council’s statutes and Doha founding charter. These categorically rule out negotiations with the criminal regime and call for its removal along with all its symbols.

“The SNC reiterates its rejection of any settlement or negotiation with the Syrian regime. (Signed, SNC).”

Moaz el-Khatib threw down the gauntlet within hours, saying in part on his personal Facebook page:

“We don’t negotiate on the regime’s survival, but on its departure at the least possible cost in blood and destruction. But that was my personal opinion and I stand by my right to express it.

“Figures, organizations and states finding [my] view ill-suited have the right to express theirs too.

“The National Coalition’s provisional political bureau will be meeting tomorrow (Thursday) and will determine the National Coalition’s official position…”

“Syria’s beloved Christians, stay put with us”

Khatib with Erdogan at a Syrian refugee camp in Turkey, Dec. 30

Moaz el-Khatib, leader of the Syrian National Coalition of Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, posted a New Year Message to Syria’s Christians on his Facebook page this morning.

I have paraphrased parts of his appeal hereunder:

I wrote this article and saved it while still in Damascus, hoping to publish it at some point.

Wherever I went, government officials would ask me about (Syria’s) Christians, as if we were beasts prying on everything dissimilar.

I told everyone: Christians live with us in harmony and love – not because of international pressure but because our religion, morals and upbringing taught us to be exemplary kinsfolk and neighbors.

That’s how we lived and that’s how we shall remain.

Yesterday, I accompanied Turkey’s great Recep Tayyip Erdogan on a visit to a Syrian refugee camp of 27,000 people. Never in my life did I feel such warmth and love.

As soon as I started talking of conditions in Syria and about the hands meddling in our lives and destiny, a thunderous chant broke out spontaneously. Thousands started repeating: “One, One, One… The Syrian people are One.”

The same spontaneous and rhythmic phrase was originally belted out in Douma in March 2011 at the funeral of the first batch of the city’s martyrs.

I realized we’re okay, that regardless of their outrages, we remain a great and courageous people that defy death as well as fire and brimstone while staying interdependent.

I decided to publish this write-up on the occasion of the New Year as a tribute to all the Syrian people, chiefly the Christians among them.

It is also a tribute to two faithful but deceased friends -- (Christian statesman) Prime Minister Faris el-Khoury and (Islamic scholar) Muhammad Bahjat al-Bitar; and to whoever shed his blood to document brutality in Homs, like (creative Christian filmmaker) Basel Shehadeh. It is an accolade as well to my beloved sister, Hind Abboud Kabawat…

Originally, the trigger for this article was the (1 January 2011) Alexandria church bombing and the earlier (31 October 2010) Baghdad church attack.

The two attacks justified Christians’ fears and awareness that immoral regimes -- whether local or global – saw dissent among components of a society. They alone destroy love, torpedo harmony and create hate amongst people to serve their political ends.

The bombs in the Alexandria and Baghdad churches did not only blow up worshippers but also tore the heart of every human being…

I feel at times more anxious than the Christians. I fear the onset of an earthquake if we don’t wise up.

Quite frankly, we are letting each other down as Muslims and Christians. We need to reinforce bridges between us.

Christianity was a pioneer in opening its doors to Islam and in shielding the companions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

My eyes swell when I call to mind how, when Jaafar ibn Abi Taleb recited some verses from the Quran from the Chapter of Maryam (Mary), al-Najafi (the emperor of Aksum at the time of Prophet Muhammad) and Eastern Ethiopian Catholic priests in his court were so touched that they began to shed tears.

We, Muslims and Christians, have lived together in the good times and bad times. We’ve respected our individual religions. We see in each other an essential, civilized and humane component of this universe, where Syria is one of the most beautiful mosaics of religious tolerance, love, security and tranquility.

I am so proud Syria is the only place in the world where the (Aramaic) language of the Spirit of God (Jesus) survives.

Time is running short. We have to consolidate what joins us. The Holy Book says: “He has made plain for you the religion with which He charged Noah and that which We have revealed to you, and that with which We charged (prophets) Abraham, Moses and Jesus, (saying): ‘Establish the religion and do not be divided therein’.”(Chapter 42, Verse 13.)

Perhaps one of the most beautiful words of compassion were those expressed by (great Syrian Druze leader) Sultan Pasha al-Atrash in his eulogy of (prominent Syrian nationalist) Abdel-Rahman Shahbandar: “Join your hearts to ours and embrace our hearts in yours. Don’t shut the homeland’s doors in the face of any honest hard worker because the paradise of this homeland is sizable to accommodate everyone regardless of faith.”

Another example of compassion among faiths in Syria was the death of the great (Alawite leader who commanded the Syrian Revolt of 1919) Saleh el-Ali in the care of his friend, Sunnite scholar Mohammad al-Majzoub...

For the sake of Christ and Muhammad

For the sake of innocent children

For the sake of the martyrs of the houses of God

For the sake of the next generation

O Christians, don’t leave!

I beg you to stay put with us!

Signed,

Moaz el-Khatib

Syria Coalition: No solution with Assad

The following is my translation of a statement posted in Arabic by Moaz el-Khatib, head of the Syrian National Coalition of Revolutionary and Opposition force, on his Facebook page.

Moaz el-Khatib

The statement categorically rejects any political solution brokered by Syria troubleshooter Lakhdar Brahimi that would keep President Bashar al-Assad in place until the end of his second term of office in 2014:

****

In the name of God the Merciful

To the forbearing people of Syria,

The Halfaya massacre was not committed by the Syrian regime without help. Whoever acquiesces to it is an accomplice to shedding Syrian blood.

Reticence on the massacres being committed against the Syrian people translates into blackmail and coercion of the people, their revolution and leadership.

All political solutions being floated around are unacceptable when they bypass the Syrian people.

We told every official we met: Keeping the regime and its head in place – with or without powers – is totally unacceptable to Syrians. After 20 months of sacrifices and the shedding of the Syrian people’s blood, how can anyone suggest maintaining the status quo until 2014?

The sitting National Coalition leadership let Lakhdar Brahimi know the rejection of this solution in plain words.

Any political solution to redeem the regime is unacceptable. A political solution is one that spares Syrian blood. Any solution that does not commence with Assad stepping down is refused and one we have to abort.

The Halfaya outrage was not just one more massacre. It was a communication from all regime supporters saying: You either die or accept the servitude we dictate.

I say forcefully: We choose freedom no matter how long it takes.

Signed

Moaz el-Khatib

Head of the Syrian Coalition