Sovereignty Support Movement Sovereignty for West Asia
by Father Dave, published on his blog
According to the Syria Justice Archive, my dear friend, brother and mentor, Dr Sheikh Ahmed Badr al-Din Hassoun, former Grand Mufti of the Syrian Arab Republic, has been hospitalised due to injuries suffered during two months of imprisonment.
When is son, Saria, was murdered by rebels, early in the war on Syria, Dr Hassoun preached forgiveness at the funeral. As I’ve said before, along with my father, he is the greatest man I have ever had the privilege of knowing. They can disfigure his body, but they will never damage his pure soul.
I’ll paste below the text from the Syria Justice Archive post. The same news has been echoed at other sites but it’s still possible that the reports are misinformed or exaggerated. I pray they are.
Below that are images of my best memories with the dear man. Below that, the most popular interview that I did with him back in April 2015.
Please join me in praying for dear Dr Hassoun, and for all at risk in Syria.
From the Syria Justice Archive: (this post no longer exists)
Former Grand Mufti Ahmed Badr al-Din Hassoun Hospitalized After Severe Beatings in Detention
Dr. Sheikh Ahmed Badr al-Din Hassoun, former Grand Mufti of the Syrian Arab Republic has been transferred to the hospital following a significant deterioration in his health due to severe physical assault during his ongoing detention.
Medical sources report that the 77-year-old cleric suffers from extensive facial disfigurement, with hospital doctors stating that facial reconstruction is virtually impossible given the extent and brutality of the injuries.
Editor’s note: I think this is an odd kind of statement regarding an 85 year old man who has been beaten so severely his appearance cannot be restored. And why mention that? Were they planning to replace him with a fake who would “repent”? A bizarre understatement at minimum. We don’t know if he is still alive, but I thought earlier that he had passed because it was noted that he was in a coma and unable to see his family. He was a powerful force on this earth, and perhaps still clings to life. In my terms he is a bodhisattva, a being who incarnated out of a desire to help others.
It takes a very dynamic person to have survived the tragedies he has, and still carry on with love and care for humanity. I met Muftil Hassoun around a decade ago, not long after his son was assassinated. He had recently gone to Jordan with the Orthodox Patriarch to initiate a tour of the world advocating for his beloved Syria and the Syrian People, advocating for peace and religious tolerance, a long time aspect of Syrian society. In Jordan, the Patriarch was given a pass, but Mufti Hassoun was taken to a dark room in the basement and “questioned“. He was not physically harmed but he was threatened and ultimately turned back. Today, when he has retired and is no threat to anyone, he is abused. What can one expect from a takfiri government installed by the hypocritical west.
Father Dave shares my impression 0f a passionate and compassionate man. He traveled through all sectors of Syria society. He could share deep insights in a very serious tone, but had a sharp sense of humor and loved to tell jokes. Below is a video of him advocating for the understanding that there is one god, but different people experience him and worship him in different ways.
