Pope says import of arms to Syria a “grave sin”

BEIRUT | Fri Sep 14, 2012 3:03pm EDT

(Reuters) – Pope Benedict appealed on Friday for a halt to the flow of arms into Syria, saying it would help end a civil war that has killed many thousands of people and which Christians fear could bring Islamists to power.

In his strongest comments yet on the conflict, Benedict branded the weapons imports as a “grave sin” as he arrived at the start of a three-day visit to Beirut, the Lebanese capital just 50 km (30 miles) from the Syrian border.

He also described Arab uprisings as a positive “cry for freedom” as long as they included religious tolerance – the central theme of Benedict’s trip which is focused on promoting peace in the Middle East and harmony between its minority Christians and majority Muslims.

Christian, Sunni and Shi’ite Muslim and Druze religious leaders joined Lebanon’s political elite in greeting Benedict on his arrival in a region now rocked by violent protests against an American film that denigrates Islam.

“The import of weapons has to finally stop,” Benedict, 85, told journalists on the plane. “Without the import of arms the war cannot continue. Instead of importing weapons, which is a grave sin, we have to import ideas of peace and creativity.”

The Arab Spring uprisings against authoritarian leaders were “a positive thing. There is a desire for more democracy, more freedoms, more cooperation and renewal,” he said.

But he added that it had to include tolerance for other religions. Asked about Christian fears about rising aggression from Islamist radicals, Benedict said: “Fundamentalism is always a falsification of religion.”

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

“I welcome and agree with Pope Benedict’s statement. The flow of arms to both sides in Syria has led to an intensification of the conflict. Those who are providing arms should stop immediately. There is no military solution to this conflict. A diplomatic solution based on the conditions set out in the Kofi Annan Plan is the only way forward.

“If we are to achieve freedom and democracy in Syria and the Middle East – then religious pluralism must be a key goal. It certainly will not be achieved by sending in Islamist militants to Syria and entrenching the conflict and dividing the region along a sectarian faultline. Therefore the countries doing this must stop.

“As I’ve said previously and I will say again the West must impress upon states in the Middle East who are arming the opposition and sending jihadist proxies to fight to stop.

“Any state or non state actors that advocate or support the killing of religious minorities must be held to account. That includes extremist clerics who advocate the murder of Muslim minorities who are given a platform by Arab TV stations such as Safa and Wisal.

“It also includes the outrageous and provocative statement made by Sheik Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah, the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, that “all churches across the region should be destroyed”, which gives a signal to radical Islamists that it is okay to persecute Christians across the Middle East and to use violence against them. This is highly irresponsible and unacceptable behaviour from someone in such a prominent position in the Muslim world.

“It includes people such Saudi Arabia’s Sheikh Saleh Al Luhaidan, former Chief Justice of Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Judicial Council (now a member of the Council) who has delivered sermons in which he calls for jihad against Muslim minority sects and ‘infidels’

“If an all out civil war leading in Syria and the region is to be avoided then all parties- the regime, the opposition and their outside backers must act in good faith and support diplomacy to bring about a peaceful end to the crisis. This is the only way to start a political process leading to a peaceful inclusive democratic transition to a national unity government and democracy and freedom.

“I call on all the Syrian opposition to unite onto one platform and work together for a peaceful solution.”