Swiss MPs urge Syria to release former Sadad mayor Suleiman Khalil
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Six Swiss parliamentarians on Wednesday called on Syria’s ambassador to Switzerland, Haydar Ali Ahmad, to press the Syrian transitional government for the release of Suleiman Khalil, the former mayor of the Christian town of Sadad, south of Homs, who has been imprisoned since February without charges or access to legal counsel.
Khalil, 51, was arrested at his family home in Sadad and has since been held in a prison in Homs. The MPs emphasized that his detention violates basic legal rights and called on Syrian authorities “to ensure that his rights are safeguarded in accordance with international standards.”
In a letter, the lawmakers highlighted that respect for due process and transparent legal procedures is crucial to strengthening public confidence and enhancing the credibility of state institutions, Christian Solidarity International (CSI) reported.
Among the signatories are Marc Jost, Andreas Gafner, and Martin Haab, members of the Swiss National Council’s network for religious freedom.
Khalil is widely recognized in Syria for organizing Sadad’s defense against ISIS in 2015, likely preventing a massacre of the town’s Christian population.
His arrest has been interpreted by many as politically motivated, linked to the leadership of Syria’s new government, which includes figures from jihadist groups that split from ISIS in 2013.
Marc Jost said, “Releasing Suleiman Khalil would bolster international confidence in the new Syrian government’s commitment to human rights and the rule of law.”
Andreas Gafner noted the broader challenges facing Syrian Christians, emphasizing that “we do not want to stand idly by while discrimination, terrorist attacks, and miscarriages of justice… drive Syrian Christians out of their homeland.” Martin Haab added, “Suleiman Khalil is a hero, and he must be set free immediately.”
CSI has launched a campaign to free Khalil, allowing supporters to send messages directly to Syria’s foreign minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, urging his immediate release.