A new religious organization born from the womb of the Syrian revolution is the latest entity that has been announced to be established in Turkey - Istanbul.
The Syrian Islamic Council, a body constitutes of 40 committees and Islamic associations of Muslim “Sunnis” inside Syria, is a cluster of many affiliations and orientations to express and meet Syrians’ views and aspirations.
The presidency of the council is led by the well-known Damascene Sheikh Osama al-Rifai, a Sharia scholar who is known for his anti-regime and pro-opposition stance since the beginning of the crisis.
Al-Rifai, who had many speeches in his father’s mosque( Abdul Kareem ) in Kafarsusa- Damascus , has been harassed and threatened by regime’s intelligence who unleashed their shabihha to break into the mosque in Al Qader Night in the month of Ramadan , August 2011, and attacked and beaten the worshipers and among them was Sheikh Osama
In a press conference held in Istanbul, Al Rifai announced “the establishment of the council” to form an Islamic reference for the Syrian people and pave the way for them to address their public issues.
On behalf of al-Rifai , the council saluted the fighters and Mujahdeen and undertook to be in constant contact with all the revolutionary entities at home and abroad in order to serve the objectives of the glorious Revolution.
Al Rifai pointed out that “The Council is not a substitute for anyone, but supportive of all and was joined by whoever tried to reach it “and added: “there is no coordination with the coalition, but the initiative came from the scholars themselves”.
Abdul Karim Bakkar, a member of the Board of Trustees, confirmed that the scholars in the council consider ISIS “the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, as the other face of the regime, and confirmed that the big military organizations are represented by the Council who will communicate with all entities in the future.
“The delegates’ number is currently 128, 50 of them represent from the inside, and the council’s internal regulations allow raising the number to 200, which will add extra individuals and entities.” He added.
Bakkar confirmed that “The council's representation is from the inside and that there are a lot of members and references who still live in Syria”.
The Council has a trustees board that includes a number of Shariah scholars , led by Osama al-Rifai , Mohammad Srour Zine El Abidine , Mamdouh Junaid , Muhammad Rateb Al Nabulsi , Mohammed Muaz Alkhn , Abdul Karim Bakkar , Imad al-Din Rashid , Mohammed Abda , Abdullah Al salqeni , Mohammed Abu al-Khair Shukri , Khairallah Taleb , Ahmed Saeed Hawa , Fida Majzoub , Riad Kharqi . Translation by Dani Murad
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