Indian Muslims condemn the mass killings of Syrian minorities by extremist Islamists

The killings by the Islamists are fuelled by an ideology of religious sectarianism and extremism. Heading same as in statement. It would be great if you could attach full statement the way you always do.
Image: Reuters

Indian Muslims for Secular Democracy (IMSD) condemns the mass killing of civilians in the latest clashes between loyalists of the toppled Bashar al-Assad and the security forces of the present regime allied with extremist Islamist forces in north-west Syria. One may have differing opinions on the former government of Bashar al-Assad, but we speak out unequivocally against the targeted pogroms and murder of the minority communities, namely the Alawites, Christians and Shiites.

The seriousness of the situation compelled the US and Russia to call for an urgent meeting of the 15-member UNSC.

IMSD’s statement has been endorsed by leading civil society organizations and prominent individuals supportive of the rights of minorities, irrespective of caste and creed. Included among them are important office bearers of the CPI and CPI(M).

While the Alawites (a sub-sect among Shia Muslims) are the main target of the Islamists, Christians and Shias too are being targeted in the Sunni majority country. It must emphasised that Sunnis who are offering protection to their compatriots too are being targeted. A protest called in Damascus by all sections of Syrian society, was dispersed by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) gunmen.

The Islamist jihadists from the various factions of the HTS, Al Qaeda and ISIS ran amok as they killed the defenceless civilians in cold blood. Many of these jihadists are of non-Syrian origin; they come from Turkey, Albania, Chechnya, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Uyghurs from Xinjiang (China), and this has only worsened the dire situation.

IMSD calls for an independent inquiry into the pogroms, by the UNHRC, as the Jolani regime has extremely low credibility among the afflicted communities.

The killings by the Islamists are fuelled by an ideology of religious sectarianism and extremism. Slogans such as, “Alawite and Shia to the grave and Christians to Beirut”, are commonly heard in Wahhabi/Salafist mosques and in street protests.

Indian Muslims must speak out against the massacres being perpetrated by extremists in the name of Islam during this holy month of Ramzan. We also appeal to all Indians as well as the global community to speak out against the horrendous killings of religious minorities in Syria.

We call for a dialogue and reconciliation within Syrian society and for them to do the utmost to prevent the ‘Al Qaeda-isation’ or ‘ISIS-isation’ of Syria. It is our belief that the greater majority of the Syrian people are committed to an inclusive, pluralistic, secular democratic Syria. In these difficult times, the world stands with the Syrian nation.

Full statement with signatories here below or copy attached:

March 15, 2025

PRESS STATEMENT

Indian Muslims condemn the mass killings of Syrian minorities by extremist Islamists

Indian Muslims for Secular Democracy (IMSD) condemns the mass killing of civilians in the latest clashes between loyalists of the toppled Bashar al-Assad and the security forces of the present regime allied with extremist Islamist forces in north-west Syria. One may have differing opinions on the former government of Bashar al-Assad, but we speak out unequivocally against the targeted pogroms and murder of the minority communities, namely the Alawites, Christians and Shiites.

IMSD’s statement has been endorsed by leading civil society organizations and prominent individuals supportive of the rights of minorities, irrespective of caste and creed. Included among them are important office bearers of the CPI and CPI(M).

The crisis is so stark that US and Russia had to call for an urgent closed door meeting of the 15-member UNSC. US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, strongly condemned “radical Islamist terrorists, including foreign jihadis” committing the massacres, and reaffirmed Washington’s support for Syria’s religious and ethnic minorities, including Christians, Druze, Alawites, and Kurds. Moreover, Rubio demanded accountability from Syria’s interim government.

Moscow’s ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, said that both Moscow and Washington are in contact on the issue and that, “The council was united in what we discussed… everyone spoke out. I wouldn’t say with one voice, but everyone emphasized the same elements: the inadmissibility of what happened, the mass murders, and violence.”

The UN Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, has condemned what he calls “extremely disturbing” reports of brutal “revenge killings”, in which “entire families, including women and children” have been savagely butchered. Of the more than 1,000 people who have reportedly been killed, more than 750 are civilians. Certain media reports mention figures up to 4,500 and more.

While the Alawites (a sub-sect among Shia Muslims) are the main target of the Islamists, Christians and Shias too are being targeted in the Sunni majority country. It must emphasised that Sunnis who are offering protection to their compatriots too are being targeted. A protest called in Damascus by all sections of Syrian society, was dispersed by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) gunmen.

The Islamist jihadists from the various factions of the HTS, Al Qaeda and ISIS ran amok as they killed the defenceless civilians in cold blood. Many of these jihadists are of non-Syrian origin; they come from Turkey, Albania, Chechnya, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Uyghurs from Xinjiang (China), and this has only worsened the dire situation.

Following the international outcry, Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa (formerly Jolani, leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a breakaway faction from Al Qaeda) announced the formation of an independent committee to “investigate the violations against civilians and identify those responsible for them.” In a Reuters interview, Sharaa said mass killings of Alawites were a threat to his mission to unite the country, and promised to punish those responsible, including his own allies if necessary.

IMSD calls for an independent inquiry into the pogroms, by the UNHRC, as the Jolani regime has extremely low credibility among the afflicted communities.

The killings by the Islamists are fuelled by an ideology of religious sectarianism and extremism. Slogans such as, “Alawite and Shia to the grave and Christians to Beirut”, are commonly heard in Wahhabi/Salafist mosques and in street protests.

Indian Muslims must speak out against the massacres being perpetrated by extremist Muslims in the name of Islam during this holy month of Ramzan. We also appeal to all Indians as well as the global community to speak out against the horrendous killings of religious minorities in Syria.

We call for a dialogue and reconciliation within Syrian society and for them to do the utmost to prevent the ‘Al Qaeda-isation’ or ‘ISIS-isation’ of Syria. It is our belief that the greater majority of the Syrian people are committed to an inclusive, pluralistic, secular democratic Syria. In these difficult times, the world stands with the Syrian nation.

Signatories:

1)    Afaq Azad, Musician, IMSD, Mumbai

2)    Ahmad Rashid Sherwani, Managing Trustee, Bharat Sewa Trust, Hyderabad

3)    A. J. Jawad, Co-convener IMSD, Advocate, Hyderabad

4)    (Prof.) A. K. Pasha, JNU, Delhi

5)    Aishwarya R, Bengaluru for Justice and Peace, Bengaluru

6)    Akhilesh Yadav, Nav Bharat Nirman, Lucknow

7)    Ali Bhojani, Hum Bharat Ke Log, Parbhani

8)    Alok, Nav Bharat Nirman, Lucknow

9)    Akbar Shaikh, Bhartiya Muslimj Yuva Andolan, Solapur

10)  Amir Rizvi, IMSD, Designer, Mumbai

11)  Anand Patwardhan, IMSD, Documentary filmmaker, Mumbai

12)  (Dr.) Anand Prakash Tiwari, Editor, Bahujan Samvad, Varanasi

13)  (Fr.) Anand, Souhard Peace Centre, Varanasi

14)  (Dr.) Anil Hebbar, Trustee, Baba Amte Ekta Abhiyan, Mumbai

15)  Anjum Rajabali, IMSD, Filmwriter, Mumbai

16)  Annu Yadav, Social Activist, Lucknow

17)  Anvar Rajan, IMSD, Social Activist, Pune

18)  Aravind Unni, Urban practitioner and researcher, Delhi

19)  Arun Srivastava, Samajwadi Samagam, Delhi

20)  Arshad Alam, Co-convener IMSD, Columnist, Delhi

21)  Ashraf Zaidi, Editor, Leaders Magazine, Delhi

22)  Ashish Shukla, Nav Bharat Nirman, Lucknow 

23)  Askari Zaidi, IMSD, Senior journalist, Delhi

24)  Binu Mathew, Editor, countercurrents.org

25)  (Fr.) Cedric Prakash, PRASHANT, Initiative for Human Rights Justice & Peace, Ahmedabad,

26)  (Com.) Charul Joshi, Progressive Writers Association, Convener, Mumbai

27)  Dhananjay Shinde, IT expert, political activist, Mumbai

28)  Dolphy D’souza, Bombay Catholic Sabha, Mumbai

29)  (Sister) Dorothy Fernandes, Patna

30)  (Rev.) E. Immanuel Nehemiah, CSI KCD, Bengaluru

31)  Evita Das, Urban Rights Activist, Delhi

32)  Farouk Mapkar, Social Activist, Mumbai

33)  Feroz Abbas Khan, Theatre and film director, playwright and screenwriter, Mumbai

34)  Feroze Mithiborwala, Co-Convener, IMSD, Mumbai

35)  Gauhar Raza, ANHAD, Poet, Delhi

36)  Dr G. G. Parikh, Veteran freedom fighter, President, Yusuf Meherali Centre, Mumbai

37)  Guddi S.L., Yusuf Meherali Centre, Mumbai

38)  Gulab Pasha, Swaraj India, Bengaluru

39)  Hasan Ibrahim, Pasha, IMSD, Writer, Prayagraj

40)  Irfan Engineer, CSSS, Co-convener IMSD, Mumbai

41)  (Fr.) Jacob Peenikaparambil, Universal Solidarity Movement, Indore

42)  Jatin Desai, Senior journalist, Peace Activist, Mumbai

43)  Javed Anand, Convener, IMSD, CJP, Mumbai

44)  John D’Souza, CED, Mumbai

45)  (Fr.) Joseph Neetilal, Lok Chetna Samiti, Varanasi

46)  Kasim Sait, IMSD, Businessman, Chennai

47)  Khadija Farooqi, IMSD, Delhi

48)  Khatoon Sheikh, Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, Mumbai

49)  Kumar Prashant, Chairman, Gandhi Peace Foundation, Delhi

50)  Lara Jesani, National Secretary, PUCL, Advocate, Mumbai

51)  Mansoor Sardar, IMSD, Bhiwandi

52)  M. A. Khalid, Social Activist, Mumbai

53)  Medha Patkar, Writer, Environmental Activist, Bhopal

54)  (Dr.) Meenakshi Sharma, Samvad Prakriya, Moradabad

55)  (Com.) Milind Ranade, General Secretary, Mumbai CPI, Mumbai 

56)  Mihir Desai, Human Rights Lawyer, Mumbai

57)  Mohammad Imran, PIO, USA

58)  Mohammed Zakirulla Baig, concerned citizen, Bengaluru

59)  Najid Hussain, Oceanographer, PIO, USA

60)  Nasreen Fazelbhoy, IMSD, Mumbai

61)  Naazish Shah, Environmental Activist

62)  Noorjahan Safia Niyaz, Co-convenor, Bhartiya Muslim Mahila Andolan

63)  Pakeezeh (Padmini) Baruah, NLSIU, Bengaluru

64)  Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, Journalist, Delhi

65)  (Com.) Prakash Reddy, political leader, CPI, Mumbai

66)  Prashant Bhushan, Advocate SC, Author, Public Interest Lawyer, Delhi

67)  (Sister) Prema Chwallur, Guwahati

68)  Putul Didi, Samvad Prakriya, Lucknow

69)  Qaisar Sultana, IMSD, Homemaker, Prayagraj

70)  Qutub Jahan, NEEDA, IMSD, Mumbai

71)  (Dr.) Radha Kumar, Academic, Feminist, Author, Chennai

72)  Rajkumari Asthana, Documentary Filmmaker, Dehradun

73)  (Prof) Rakesh Rafique, Author, Samvad Prakriya, Moradabad

74)  (Dr.) Ram Puniyani, Author, All India Secular Forum, Mumbai

75)  Rashida Tapadar, Writer, Educationist and Activist, Assam

76)  Ravi Nair, Investigative Journalist, Delhi

77)  (Sister) Roseline SCN, Gaya

78)  Sabah Khan, Parcham, Thane

79)  Sajjad Kargili, Political Activist, Ladakh

80)  (Dr.) Saif Mehmood, IMSD, SC Lawyer, Delhi

81)  (Com.) S. K. Rege, State Secretary, Mumbai

82)  Salim, Saboowala, Social Activist, Mumbai

83)  Salim Yusuf, IMSD, Lawyer, Bhiwandi

84)  Sandeep Pandey, Socialist Party of India, National President, Lucknow

85)  (Dr.) Sanjay M G, Member National Working Group (NWG), (NAPM)

86)  Santosh Ambekar, Mahatma Phule, OBC Vichar Manch, Mumbai

87)  Satyapal Malik, former Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Bihar, Goa & Meghalaya, Delhi

88)  (Dr) Satyavrat, Mairtee Ashram, Lucknow

89)  Shabana Dean, IMSD, Pune

90)  Shabnam Hashmi, ANHAD, Delhi

91)  Shahid Pradhan, Educationist, Pune

92)  Shafaat Khan, IMSD, Playwright, Mumbai

93)  (Dr.) Shamsuddin Tamboli, President, Muslim Satyashodhak Mandal, Pune

94)  Shamsul Islam, Author, Activist, Delhi

95)  Shalini Dhawan, Designer, Mumbai

96)  Shama Zaidi, IMSD, Screenplay Writer, Documentary Filmmaker,, Mumbai

97)  Sharad Kadam, Hum Bharat Ke Log, Mumbai

98)  Shujaat Ali Quadri, India Palestine Solidarity Forum, Vice-President, Delhi

99)  Sukla Sen, Social Activist, Mumbai

100)       Sultan Shahin, Editor-in-Chief, New Age Islam, Delhi

101)       (Dr.) Sunilam, President, Kisan Sangarsh Samiti, Gwalior

102)       (Dr.) Suresh Khairnar, Writer, Nagpur

103)       Syed Muntazir Mehdi, PDP leader Kashmir

104)       Teesta Setalvad, Secretary CJP, IMSD, Mumbai

105)       Tushar Gandhi, Hum Bharat Ke Log, National President, Mumbai

106)       (Com.) Uday Narkar, Central Committee Member, CPI(M), Kolhapur

107)       Usha Vishwakarma, Nav Bharat Nirman, Lucknow

108)       Vibhuti Narain Rai, IMSD, IPS (retd), writer, Noida

109)       Vrijendra, Educationist, Social Activist, Mumbai

110)       Yashodhan Paranjpe, Hum Bharat Ke Log, Navi Mumbai

111)       Zakia Soman, Co-convenor, Bhartiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, Delhi

112)       Zulekha Jabeen, IMSD, Delhi

113)       Zeenat Shaukatali, Islamic Scholar, DG, Wisdom Foundation, IMSD, Mumbai

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