Ribal Al-Assad joins Patriarchs in calling for the return of Christian Bishops and a peaceful solution through dialogue in Syria
Thursday, 13 June 2013
Rai, Yazigi urge end to interference in Syria
The Daily Star
JUNE 13, 2013
Patriarch Beshara Rai and Greek Orthodox Patriarch of the Levant and Antioch John X Yazigi appealed Thursday to Lebanese, regional and international parties to end their involvement in the 2-year-old civil war in Syria.
The two patriarchs also called on the kidnappers of two Orthodox bishops in Syria to release them.
Bishops Yohanna Ibrahim and Paul Yazigi were kidnapped at the end of April, reportedly near the rebel-held town of Kafr Dael, near Aleppo in northern Syria. Sources close to the Greek Orthodox Church in Syria and the Syrian authorities have claimed the kidnappers were "Chechen jihadists".
“We call on the kidnappers and the concerned countries to release Bishops Paul Yazigi and Yohanna Ibrahim, the two priests Ishak Mahfoud and Michel Kayyal who were kidnapped before them and all kidnapped people on Syrian territories,” Rai and Yazigi said in a joint statement issued after their meeting in Bkirki.
Expressing their regret and sorrow over the ongoing violence in Syria, the two patriarchs said: “We call on all Lebanese, regional and international parties to end their involvement in the Syrian conflict and inflaming it. We appeal to everyone to work for peace.”
Commenting, Director of ODFS, Ribal Al-Assad said:
“I welcome the statement by Patriarch Beshara Rai and join him in asking for Bishops Yohanna Ibrahim and Paul Yazigi to be released. Kidnappings by Islamist rebels are unfortunately on the rise in Syria and the fact that extremists are now targeting religious leaders is especially concerning.
I also reiterate Patriarch Bashara Rai’s call for a peace; the international community must work towards bringing sides together to achieve a political solution through peaceful dialogue not inflame tensions through a further militarisation of the conflict.”