First, a disclaimer: I do not know when this video was shot, nor do I speak Arabic, so I cannot comment on what is said in Arabic in this video. However, I can confirm that I clearly hear a voice saying in Russian “move to the side” and, later, “don’t stand in groups”. It is also clear that at least one person in this video is wearing an Afghan “Pakol“. Finally, at least one person, the guy in a white shirt, look Indonesian to me, but I might be mistaken here.
Some sources say that the older murdered man is an Orthodox bishop, others say that it is a Roman-Catholic priest. My personal impression is that this was not an Orthodox bishop but, frankly, I don’t think that it really matters.
The most detailed description of this event I have found so far is on the intifada-palestine.com website:
According to sources close to the Syriac Orthodox Archbishop , it was confirmed that the incident does actually involve a Syrian Catholic priest Father François Murad 49, and two of his assistants. This video shows militants believed to be Chechen gunmen speaking Arabic with a broken accent, slaughtering three people in the countryside of Edlib, including Father François Murad, who was patron of Sumaan al-Amoudi Monastery,
Father Francois and two assistants were brutally executed – beheaded with a small combat knife. Echoing previous beheading recorded by insurgents, the head is held up to the cheers of onlookers and then placed on the body.
The monastery in which he resided was burnt and looted, echoing the events of a massacre in Homs last month which resulted in the entire population of a Christian village being wiped out and their houses and possessions burnt. Two Christian bishops who were kidnapped by Chechen gunmen in Aleppo earlier this year, are still missing and are not the same persons that were beheaded.
As well as Christians, Shia villages are receiving the brunt of a boldly-confident insurgency. This newly-found confidence has resulted in having just recently received confirmation of America’s intent to supply them with more weapons. Last week, militants massacred dozens of villagers in the province’s town of Hatla. Since then, summary executions and sectarian house-to-house raids have taken place.
This month has seen an escalation in sectarian atrocities committed by insurgents,(foreign mercenaries) who have been publicly armed and supported by America, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and other actors. Indeed, the atrocities are coinciding with further arms transfers – with new advanced weaponry witnessed in the hands of militants in the past number of weeks.
The most recent beheading recorded on video and uploaded to the internet, reportedly took place in Idlib countryside.
The reported beheading of the three Christians comes about the same time America has started sending arms to rebel fighters, the Wall Street Journal revealed this week. The Journal reported the Central Intelligence Agency just began transporting weapons to Jordan for eventual transfer to Syrian fighters.
The weapons transfer is aimed at helping Free Syrian forces oust Syria’s President Bashar al- Assad. It’s scheduled to coincide with arms shipments from other European and Arab allies for a planned and coordinated rebel attack set for August, the Journal reported.
See the video for yourself:
When I see this seemingly happy crowd, which includes some happy children, when I hear the screams of “God is great” I can only think one thing; these creatures must be exterminated.
Frankly, such footage makes me doubt the very notion of a peace conference. You think that one can make peace with folks like these? I don’t. I have to admit that I don’t believe in negotiations with them. Nor do I see the point of trying to work with them to reform Syria. Again, at the risk of coming across as crude, unsophisticated or otherwise primitive, I personally see only one real way to deal with these people: exterminate them down to the last one.
I mean, really, look at the tall guy with long hair in this video (the one wielding the knife). What would be the point of making him prisoner or punishing him for first degree murder under some civil criminal code? Does he really look like a common criminal to you?
Not to me.
These crazed Wahabi thugs are truly the worst of the worst, the most evil and bloodthirsty animals out there and, I believe, they should be shot on sight as soon as they are detected. I really hate saying that (since I am an opponent of the death penalty in 99.99999999% of circumstances), but I think that it is the duty of civilized mankind to fully exterminate beings capable of such behavior.
How could I fully approve of what the Russians did during the 2nd Chechen war and expect Assad to do otherwise?
How can the current Russian government say that the Khasavyurt Accord was essentially a betrayal of Russia and also say that Assad should agree to negotiations in Geneva II?
The more I observe the situation in Syria the more I think that there is nobody to negotiate with, nor is there anything to negotiate about. The Satanic barbarians who are the core of the so-called Syrian opposition can only be physically exterminated. I honestly begin to have very serious doubts about the very notion of sitting down with these people and discuss something. Or how could anybody civilized even consider the idea of jointly governing Syria with these beasts?
Does anybody reading these lines really believe that negotiations with these folks are possible?
I do not.
I would be dishonest if I pretended that I see any other way to stop this war other than physically exterminating all these vicious thugs.
Does anybody disagree? Can anybody image negotiating with these people?
Kind regards,
The Saker
I’m in complete agreement. And this sort of thing happens so often and in so many different circumstances, that it is impossible to believe it is an “isolated incident.”
The Syrian government may need to go through the charade of Geneva to placate the west, or to give Russia some diplomatic room. But on the ground there should be zero tolerance for Wahabis. Like you said, what is there to discus? What reforms are they trying to bring to Syria? I’d rather live under the most extreme police state of Hafez al Assad than under rule of these reptiles.
And quite frankly, I’m of the opinion that Bashar’s mistake was not that he was a dictator, but rather that he was far too lenient with these lizard men. His father would have dealt with them in such a way that “hell would have held no surprises for them” as one pro-Syria blogger I like to read would say.
Nor is this barbarity confined to Syria. Somehow it has metastasized to my own Egypt, where you may have heard about the mob murder of an Egyptian Shia’ cleric and his 4 companions this past Sunday.
That latter incident has in the last few days caused me to embrace Shia Islam. Now I’m not very religious, but in terms of world view I’m very much in agreement with the Shia’ values of resisting injustice and overcoming betrayal.
This is not a renunciation of genuine Sunni Islam per se. As Iran’s FM Salehi said, “If Sunni means wanting to live as Mohammed lived, then all Iran is Sunni. If Shia means loving the Prophet and his family, then all of Egypt is Shia’.” Very well spoken, though I wish more would hear and understand it..
I wonder how long the support for these thugs would last if we handed them the families of all the proponents of war on Syria, including Hollande, Cameron, Obama Et Al and the same fate befell them as befell those innocents in the video. Outright Carnage for its own sake.
I’m with you Saker, eliminate the lot preferably painfully.
KamNam
Shi’a Muslim history (not necessarily all Shi’a Muslims) is fully aware of these kinds of people – our history may have been made into one of sorrows. BUT the current to not allow these sorrows to become a source of victimization is also very strong. Such acts should not come as any surprise to Shi’a Muslims who know their history – and i don’t mean just the history during the period of “occultation” of the 12th Imam al Mahdi… but the history during the period of the Prophet (peace be upon him) Ashura, and subsequent events in the lives of the Imams.. we know this stuff.
There are three currents within the Shi’a traditions…
1. the current of the Imams who took steps of resistance in accordance with the circumstances of the time.
2. the current that insisted on uprisings no matter what the cost and no matter what the circumstances, this current often ended up going against the wishes of the Imams, or they did so with tacit but but not explicit support of the Imam, or they disowned the Imam if they chose to not do an armed uprising…
3. the current that adopted remaining quiet while awaiting the rise of Imam al-Mahdi (as).
Unfortunately, it appears that the third force has gained ascendency in Iran during the elections… and it remains to be seen how the first force of prudent resistance will be able to regroup… If I’m correct, and this third force consolidates its position, we’re in for some very serious turbulent periods, as the takfiris may be able to use this period to establish themselves, if there is no prudent, and effective resistance.
I agree with you.
And
So does Leith
Who
Is busy today organizing a large demonstration in Dearborn.
INDY
@Lysander: dear friend, I was so touched by your post that it inspired me to write a long article in which I quote you a lot and I even address you directly several times. I hope that you do not mind. Check it out here:
http://vineyardsaker.blogspot.com/2013/06/reflexions-on-my-outburst-yesterday-and.html
and let me know what you think, ok?
@Anonymous KamNam: yes, this reminds me of how suddenly the Brist “discovered” how nasty the Chechens could be when they beheaded two BT engineers…
@Anonymous2: in your opinion which of these three approaches is commensurate with the power/means of Syria and Iran at this moment in time? Do you think that Russia, Iran, Hezbollah and Syria should act even more openly?
@INDY: which demonstration in Dearborn? Can you tell us more?
@EVERYBODY: please continue any further discussion of these topics in the comments section under this port:
http://vineyardsaker.blogspot.com/2013/06/reflexions-on-my-outburst-yesterday-and.html
Thanks!!
The Saker
Saker, these thugs gave been supported by Turkey. In fact, thy have been on ducting coordinated attacks from the north of th border into the south against towns like Ras-al-ayn (Serêkanîyê) and most recently against city of Afrin. They are trying to surround the city and cut all supplies going to the city. Turkish support for these groups has not descended and unfortunately the PKK cannot do much as it doesn’t want to be the side that sinked the “peace” process.
@Anonymous3:Saker, these thugs gave been supported by Turkey.
Why is that? Is Turkey not threatened by these same Wahabis? Or are they trying to protect themselves by placating the Wahabis, or are they just compelled do to so by NATO?
the PKK cannot do much as it doesn’t want to be the side that sinked the “peace” process.
Ok, but *in principle* does the PKK support the Wahabis or the Syrian government? And – is this not the perfect time to get a good autonomy deal form the Syrians?!
I remember how the Turks threatened war against Syria if it continued to support the Kurds on its territory. Do the Kurds really have no gratitude for that?
Not only Turkey supports these thugs and the FSA in general, it allowed its own extremists join in as well, at least to fight against Kurds in the north. Turkey has been relying on money from Saudis and Qatar for a long time.
Kurds have de facto autonomy now. They don’t want to fight either against Assad or FSA. However, the FSA has not left them alone, constantly attacking from Turkey. Assad’s forces have bombed a few times but no attacks comparable to those coming from the FSA.
In a nutshell, the Kurds represent the third way: freedom for everyone, confederal structure with local management and avoid destroying the country..
Ok, so, your moment tells me you are not aware of whole history. Yes, Turkey used to threaten Syria but also the two have gotten ultra cozy, including joint attacks on Kurds, renditions, oh yeah, summer vacations for Assad and Erdogan together. When there was a common enemy, the two were friends. Rocks shifted.
So the Kurds at thus time are trying to get recognized. Assad has made no attempt to officially recognize them while the FSA, Tukey, and rest of the chorus keep screaming how PKK and Kurds n Syria are supportive of Assad and how thy are Shaiba etc. As you see, no sides seem to be happy with Kurds.
I will send you some articles this week.
Z
@Z:Ok, so, your moment tells me you are not aware of whole history
100% correct, alas.
I will send you some articles this week.
Many thanks, I will be very grateful for any pointers!
Cheers,
The Saker