Grand Mufti urges Muslim states to stand by Syria

Syrian Grand Mufti Sheikh Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun has called on the Muslim world to shrug off the West’s media hype on Syria and stand by the Arab nation.

Addressing the representatives of Muslim countries at the 27th International Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran on Friday, Hassoun urged other states not to believe the news disseminated by the Western media about Syria.

He urged Muslim countries to stand by Syrians like Iran.

The Syrian Grand Mufti pointed to the West’s animosity towards Tehran and Damascus and said Iran and Syria are being punished for supporting the resistance.

The Syrian army continues conducting successful clean-up operations in several areas across Syria, inflicting heavy losses on foreign-backed militants operating in the Middle Eastern country.

On Thursday, the army carried out operations against foreign-sponsored Takfiri groups, killing dozens of them.

Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since March 2011. According to figures released by the United Nations, over 100,000 people have been killed and millions displaced due to the turmoil.

On January 16, UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos said Syria is experiencing the “biggest humanitarian crisis we face today.”