Opposition vows accountability for insulting Turkish flag in Syria’s northwest
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – On Friday, Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) vowed to held demonstrators accountable in the event they insult the Turkish flag, following calls for demonstrations against statements by Turkey’s Foreign Minister about reconciliation between the Syrian government and the opposition.
On Thursday evening, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters in the 13th Ambassadors Conference in Ankara about Turkish intention to bring the government and the opposition together.
His remarks have sparked widespread anger among activists, who called for staging demonstrations across cities and towns under the control of the Turkish-backed Syrian opposition factions in northwest Syria.
“We have to somehow bring opposition and the regime in Syria together to reach an agreement. Otherwise, there will be no lasting peace,” he said.
The Department of Moral Guidance of the SNA issued a notice warning against insulting the Turkish flag.
It likened the Turkish flag to the flag of the Syrian revolution, and it called the abusers as “ignorant”.
It vowed to hold the protesters accountable in the event that they burned the Turkish flag again.
On Thursday at night many key cities and towns including al-Bab, Azaz, Afrin and Jarablus that are run by Turkish forces and the SNA factions witnessed many protests against Turkey’s intention to normalize ties with the Syrian government, considering this step as betrayal of the Syrian revolution.
The protesters burnt the Turkish flag, holding opposition slogans and chanting against Turkey.
They shouted saying, “death rather than indignity.”