Abdel Halim Khaddam, the former vice president of Syria who defected from the Syrian regime in 2005, stated that Western countries should not fear that the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad would result in the rise of an extremist Islamic regime.
During a visit to Brussels, Khaddam made special remarks to the London newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat. He emphasized that “international parties should refrain from expressing concerns about the potential dominance of fundamentalist extremism in Syria. Syrians, both Muslims and Christians, are religious but not fanatical. It is crucial to recognize that shielding the regime under this pretext, along with its continued oppression and tyranny, will push moderation towards extremism.”
Khaddam believed that “what these countries should do is assist in the establishment of an international commission of inquiry and refer the investigation to the International Criminal Court. This will hold accountable those responsible for ordering, planning, and executing the killings. Military operations are not necessary.”
Since the beginning of the demonstrations in Syria last month, at least 40 people have been killed, and security forces have injured dozens of others.
