One of metropolitans kidnapped in Syria treated in Ankara, then returned to kidnappers - Syrian mufti

Moscow, June 11, 2015   

The Supreme Mufti of Syria Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun claims that Turkey is involved in the abduction of two Christian leaders of the Syrian city of Aleppo.

"When I am asked where these people are, I reply: ask Turkish security authorities," the mufti told a press conference in Moscow on Wednesday.

He said he met a former U.S. Attorney General, Ramsey Clark, in Damascus a few weeks ago, who told him that when one of the abducted metropolitans had fallen ill, he was treated in Ankara and then returned to his abductors.

"Ask the Turkish government, this issue (the metropolitans' release) is dependent on it," Hassoun said.

He claimed earlier that Turkish secret services were involved in the abduction of these two hierarchs, possibly because of Turkish claims to have the Antiochene See moved from Syria to Turkey and thereby try to put pressure on the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East.

    

In April 2013 militants of the armed Syrian opposition captured near Aleppo the Patriarch of Antioch John X's brother Metropolitan Paul of Aleppo and the Syro-Jacobite Metropolitan of Aleppo John-Ibrahim. Their driver, a deacon, was killed. Both were tackling humanitarian problems of the population of the village of Kafr Dael near the Syrian-Turkish border.

Interfax-Religion

6/13/2015

See also
Turkey's Role in the Kidnapping of the Syrian Bishops Turkey's Role in the Kidnapping of the Syrian Bishops Turkey's Role in the Kidnapping of the Syrian Bishops Turkey's Role in the Kidnapping of the Syrian Bishops
On April 22, 2013 Bishops Yuhanna Ibrahim and Paul Yazici were kidnapped in Syria. During the kidnapping their driver was murdered. A fourth person in the car, Fuad Eliya, was released. Bishop Yuhanna Ibrahim is of the Syriac Orthodox Church and was considered the strongest candidate to succeed the current Patriarch. Bishop Paul Yazici is of the Greek Orthodox Church, he is the brother of the current patriarch. Whereabouts of kidnapped Metropolitans determined, according to Lebanese security service chief Whereabouts of kidnapped Metropolitans determined, according to Lebanese security service chief Whereabouts of kidnapped Metropolitans determined, according to Lebanese security service chief Whereabouts of kidnapped Metropolitans determined, according to Lebanese security service chief
The whereabouts of two Syrian Metropolitans, who were kidnapped in April this year, has almost been determined. Grand Mufti of Syria: militants from Chechnya involved in kidnapping of Metropolitans Grand Mufti of Syria: militants from Chechnya involved in kidnapping of Metropolitans Grand Mufti of Syria: militants from Chechnya involved in kidnapping of Metropolitans Grand Mufti of Syria: militants from Chechnya involved in kidnapping of Metropolitans
Grand Mufti of Syria Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun stated that, according to his information, the two Christian leaders from the Syrian city of Aleppo who had been kidnapped in April are alive.
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