4 Killed In Syria Over Alleged Insult To Prophet Mohammed
At least four people were killed and six others injured in clashes that erupted near Damascus, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Tuesday, following the circulation of an audio recording allegedly insulting the Prophet Mohammed.
The recording, reportedly attributed to a member of the Druze community, sparked outrage. However, the Interior Ministry stated that investigations had so far found no evidence confirming the speaker’s identity or community affiliation. Authorities said efforts were ongoing to identify the individual behind the recording.
Residents of the town of Jaramana, where the violence occurred, reported hearing gunfire and rocket blasts throughout the morning. According to witnesses, the clashes involved armed men from Jaramana, primarily members of the Druze community and fighters from neighbouring towns.
Security forces have since cordoned off Jaramana to prevent the infiltration of additional armed groups.
In response to the unrest, a statement from the Druze community in Jaramana condemned the audio as a fabrication designed “to incite sedition and sow division among the people of the same nation”. The community also denounced what it called an “unjustified armed attack” on the town.
Since the ousting of long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad in December, Syria’s new leadership has called for national unity and pledged to foster inclusivity across the country.
Syria’s Druze population is primarily concentrated in the southern region of the country.
4 Killed In Syria Over Alleged Insult To Prophet Mohammed is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
