Martyr Saria Hassoun was assassinated by an armed terrorist group on Sunday on the road between Idleb and Aleppo.
Empowered by President Bashar al-Assad, Minister of Endowments Mohammad Abdelsattar al-Sayyed attended the funeral and offered condolences on behalf of President al-Assad to the Grand Mufti and his family and the people of Aleppo.
Grand Mufti Hassoun said that those who commit such acts aren't targeting individuals; rather they are targeting the homeland and want Syria to kneel before Zionists and America, affirming that they will not achieve their goals, saying "even if only one man remains standing in Syria, he would not concede Palestine and would not kneel before the enemies of the nation… he would not be a coward and he would not murder innocents."
Hassoun wondered why NATO planes bomb Libya's cities and people, and if those who don't want Saria and his fellow martyrs to live could possibly want what's best for the nation and actually believe in people's causes.
He pointed out that throughout his 23 years as Mufti he was committed to the homeland and did not tolerate having a Syrian hurt another, and that he was pained over every martyr to fall on the Syrian soil.
Hassoun called on those who protest and create a safe environment for murderers to carry out their crimes to reconsider their behavior and stop gathering as they are providing cover to those who wish Syria ill, stressing his deep pain and grief for all of Syria, not just his son.
The Grand Mufti wondered how some believe that what is happening in Syria targets only the political system, calling them to view what is happening in the Arab world with wisdom and see how those who claim to promote democracy are murdering thousands of Libya's people and bombing its cities.
Hassoun held the religious figures who issues fatwas haphazardly responsible for the murder of his son along with thousands of Syrians, addressing the murderers by saying that they should have killed him instead of his son, stressing that the martyr's blood is on the hands of those who issued the fatwa for his murder.
He went on to affirm that sermons and fatwas issued by some religious figures that justify the murder of Syrians will not avail those who wish this country's ruin because the blood of the thousands of martyrs will protect Syria and distinguish right from wrong.
"Those who send weapons and money will not succeed in silencing the voice of righteousness of Syria, Syria which preserved the Palestinian cause, protected the resistance and stood by our people in Gaza when allies were nowhere to be found," he said, reassuring the Syrian people and telling them to be unafraid because Syria will remain a shining light no matter how many fires are startled by the hateful.
Hassoun called upon the Syrian fathers and mothers to watch their sons' behavior at this sensitive stage and work to deter those who carry weapons among them and inform about them, "because this will help save the homeland and protect religion and the honest values."
The Grand Mufti also called on the personalities and parties from the opposition that have been heaping insults upon their country from abroad to come back home and get involved in building its future and put forth their views on freedoms and justice clearly and honestly.
He pointed out that he is closely familiar with how President al-Assad thinks "who wants to guide Syria to safety, put the Syrian people on the path to victory and give the homeland's sons the opportunity to be proud of their values, religion and Arabism."
Hassoun called on "the brothers in the Arab world" to visit Syria to see first hand how the Syrians have been over the past six months the victim of misleading and deceptive media.
He called upon them to follow in the steps of the foreign delegations which have visited Syria, toured the cities' streets without being intercepted by any and seen first hand how the Syrians are pursuing their lives safely day and night.
The Mufti expressed astonishment how some Arab countries withdrew their ambassadors form Syria, while the foreign countries have not done such a thing, "at the time when we expected you [the Arabs] to act as brothers in bringing people together."
For his part, Minister of al-Awqaf said that the murderers will not be able to undermine the homeland's steadfastness, highlighting Syria's success in facing the conspiracy thanks to its people and scholars' awareness.
Mar Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim, the Syriac Orthodox Metropolitan Bishop of Aleppo, condemned in a statement to SANA the terrorist acts which claimed the lives of the Mufti's son and all the Syrian citizens who were assassinated by terrorists, hoping this black page in Syria's history will be turned over and asking God to protect Syria.
Yohanna Janbert, the Roman Catholics Metropolitan of Aleppo, said that the killing of a human being is prohibited in all the holy religions, hailing the Grand Mufti's role in inculcating the culture of amity and fraternity among the Syria's sons with all of their sects.
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