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