Academic defends former Sunni authority figure arrested by Syrian forces

A letter by Dr Declan Hayes, a controversial pro-Assad academic has defended the former Grand Mufti of Syria, Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun who was reportedly arrested by Syria’s new authorities on March 25th. 

Hayes describes Hassoun as a “personal friend” in his letter to Simon Harris, Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister of Ireland) and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Minister for Defence. He also wrote in the letter which appears to be undated, that Hassoun was about to board a flight to Anman for an urgent medical procedure when he was apprehended. 

In the letter, Hayes wrote: “I hope, against hope, you will follow the example of Antony Albanese, Australia’s Prime Minister, and make at least a perfunctory condemnation of the Uyghurs’ ongoing Alawite genocide, as well as their persecution of upstanding Sunnis like Mufti Hassoun.”

He added: “Although Mufti Hassoun’s plight mirrors that of hundreds of thousands of other Syrians, both Sunnis and non-Sunnis, under the current EU sponsored regime, Mufti Hassoun’s case is slightly different, as he came to Ireland on my invitation, where he addressed the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee. Where he was continually harangued by Ms Ivana Bacik, who has played a very nefarious and subversive role on all matters Syrian.”

Hayes appears to call for Simon Harris to use his influence to address Hassoun’s arrest or perhaps address the way Hassoun had been treated at the Committee, as Harris is a Teachta Dala (TD) at the Houses of the Oireachtas. TD’s are elected members of Dáil Éireann, which is one of the Houses of the Oireachtas. Oireachtas is an Irish word, used to describe Ireland’s parliament. 

Hayes expressed doubts over Harris’s ability to act on the issues raised in his letter. He said that Harris has not taken any action concerning the killing of Alawites and Christians on the coast of Syria by the Uyghurs. He also said that Harris’s People Before Profit opposition TDs, were not willing to denounce the killing of Shia children from Foua and Kafraya in April 2017.

Hayes also continued to discuss his close relations with the cleric. He mentioned that Hassoun helped him organise a trip to Syria’s Christian town of Maaloula. 

It has been confirmed that Hassoun had been issued an arrest warrant, with purported photos appearing online of him blindfolded whilst in detention, The New Arab reported on March 27th.

Whilst there was no formal announcement of him being arrested, an arrest warrant on social media which was signed by Syria’s Attorney General ordered Hassoun to be arrested. It also said that he has faced an allegation in a legal complaint against him but “has fled from justice”. 

As a former Grand Mufti, which was Syria’s top Islamic Sunni authority, he had the duty to issue official legal opinions and advise upon Islamic law from 2005 until 2021, when the former President Bashar al-Assad consequently scrapped the position. Reportedly, Hassoun had been detained and later freed by Syrian security forces, after Assad’s fall from power. 

In 2017 it became apparent that Hassoun was one of three men, together with Assad, who signed execution orders for thousands of anti-Assad prisoners, who were reportedly killed in Saydnaya prison. If this can be confirmed, then Hassoun might face charges of crimes against humanity. 

Whilst Hayes has demanded support from Ireland for the Muslim world, the country has also critised Israel and equally been subjected to criticism from Israel. Asharq Al-Awsat and agencies reported that on March 27th last year, Micheal Martin, Ireland’s now Prime Minister said the attack of October 7th by Hamas as well as Israel’s actions “represent the blatant violation of international humanitarian law on a mass scale.”

On December 15th last year, Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar said that his country would close its embassy in Ireland, citing “extreme anti-Israeli policies of the Irish government,” according to Reuters.

More recently, Executive Director of Amnesty International Ireland, Stephen Bowen, condemned Netanyahu’s visit to Hungary, Amnesty International said on April 2nd.

Bowen said: “This alarming news of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s trip to Europe risks making a mockery of all that has been done to create and support an international legal system to protect each and every human being.”

“There is a clear opportunity here for the Irish government to stand up and be counted. The Irish government must publicly demand that Hungary will arrest Prime Minister Netanyahu under the [International Criminal Court] ICC arrest warrant and hand him over to the authorities in The Hague.”

Bowen also said that Ireland has continuously supported the ICC’s global justice efforts and must urge Hungary to swiftly arrest Netanyahu whilst he is in Hungary.

Reuters, Asharq Al-Awsat and agencies, Citizens Information, The New Arab, Amnesty International