President B. Assad should be brought to Justice

In the past few months Bashar Al Assad, the president of Syria, has used his country’s military against his own citizens. Furthermore, he has ordered for a mass execution of those who have been rebelling against his dictatorship.

Syria is not the only country that is being pressurized for the reforms and changes in its governing practices. Some other conflicts occurring in the same region include Hosni Mubarak’s removal from Egypt, as well as the rebellious activities, in Libya, Bahrain, and Yemen, following this event. Libya, currently under pressure through NATO attacks and other sanctions, imposed on the Gaddafi regime to stop innocent killings and brutality.

In Syria the current ruling government is Shia Islam whereas the majority of the people are from Sunni Islam. Assad has kept the country under a state of emergency since 1963, suspending the constitution and overruling many human rights. Broadcasting, foreign media and other sources of communication are being strictly monitored in order to prevent rebel activity. Assad has murdered thousands of protestors and there is little known information concerning the numbers still suffering from his brutality.

Syria’s ruling Shia government claims to have an Islamic constitution and leadership. According to any Shia law, mostly followed through the first Imam (leadership position in Shia Islam), and the preaching’s of Holy Prophet Muhammad (the prophet of Islam and the last messenger of God), killing an unarmed civilian is against the law and is strictly condemned by previous Imams. Not only condemned but many examples have been left behind by them as to how they dealt with revolts and rebellions without killing any innocent civilian.

Assad’s acts have not condemned by any religious cleric nor has any fatwa (a legal pronouncement in Islam, issued by a religious law specialist on a specific issue) been passed by the supreme leaders of Shia Islam. A list of previous fatwas passed by religious clerics can be viewed at the following link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatwas. One example listed here is that of the famous fatwa to kill Salman Rushdie due to blasphemy against the prophet of Islam. Someone who has not been ruling according the proper laws of Islam, although he may claim to be doing so, is a blasphemy against the teachings of prophet of Islam and a misrepresentation of the religion.

The killing of protestors in Bahrain has been recognized by many Shia leaders and clerics, since the majority population of Bahrain is Shia Muslims ruled by a Sunni Government, but in contrast to Syria the ruling government is Shia Muslim in a Sunni dominating population. In taking a broader look at these countries current governmental situations, it is not religion that rules, but rather dominating and power-hungry dictators.

On a positive note, unlike Syria, Bahrain’s situation is under control and the media was given permission to carry out independent news reporting. In Syria it has been more than a few months and thousands have been executed without any valid reason, except for the sole purpose of protecting the ruling government.

It is mentioned in the Holy Quran (the holy book in Islam claimed to be God’s word) that killing any innocent person is equal to killing the whole of mankind. (5:32): “For that cause we decreed for the Children of Israel that whosoever killeth a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind, and who so saveth the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind. Our messengers came unto them of old with clear proofs (of Allah's Sovereignty), but afterwards lo! Many of them became prodigals in the earth.”