Armed opposition groups in Syria have kidnapped, tortured and executed members of the security forces and supporters of the Syrian regime, the New York-based advocacy group Human Rights Watch said on Tuesday.

The rights group condemned the tactics by opposition fighters, who have long accused government troops and loyalists of carrying out similar abuses.

“The Syrian government’s brutal tactics cannot justify abuses by armed opposition groups,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, in an open letter to dissident groups including the Syrian National Council (SNC).

“Opposition leaders should make it clear to their followers that they must not torture, kidnap or execute under any circumstances,” she added.

Syria’s armed opposition is highly fragmented and many militias do not appear to belong to an organized command structure.

(Source: Reuters)

Commenting on the statement, Ribal Al-Assad, Director of the ODFS, said:

“I welcome the intervention by Human Rights Watch. I absolutely agree that the Syrian regime’s brutal tactics cannot justify abuses by armed opposition groups and the leaders of the Syrian opposition must make it clear to their followers that they should not carry out violence or murder in any circumstances. Political and religious pluralism can only ever be achieved in Syria if the opposition is genuinely inclusive and accepts people irrespective of their religion, sect, culture and ethnicity. The only way forward is an inclusive, peaceful, and democratic transition. Any other approach will only stoke sectarian tensions and lead to a fully fledged civil war”.