{"id":131847,"date":"2025-11-06T10:59:44","date_gmt":"2025-11-06T10:59:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/npasyria.com\/en\/?p=131847"},"modified":"2025-11-06T10:59:46","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T10:59:46","slug":"swiss-mps-urge-syria-to-release-former-sadad-mayor-suleiman-khalil","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/npasyria.com\/en\/131847\/","title":{"rendered":"Swiss MPs urge Syria to release former Sadad mayor Suleiman Khalil"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) \u2013 <\/strong>Six Swiss parliamentarians on Wednesday called on Syria\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 \u201cto ensure that his rights are safeguarded in accordance with international standards.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.csi-int.org\/news\/swiss-lawmakers-appeal-to-syria-for-release-of-former-mayor\/\">reported<\/a>. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Among the signatories are Marc Jost, Andreas Gafner, and Martin Haab, members of the Swiss National Council\u2019s network for religious freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Khalil is widely recognized in Syria for organizing Sadad\u2019s defense against ISIS in 2015, likely preventing a massacre of the town\u2019s Christian population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His arrest has been interpreted by many as politically motivated, linked to the leadership of Syria\u2019s new government, which includes figures from jihadist groups that split from ISIS in 2013.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Marc Jost said, \u201cReleasing Suleiman Khalil would bolster international confidence in the new Syrian government\u2019s commitment to human rights and the rule of law.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Andreas Gafner noted the broader challenges facing Syrian Christians, emphasizing that \u201cwe do not want to stand idly by while discrimination, terrorist attacks, and miscarriages of justice\u2026 drive Syrian Christians out of their homeland.\u201d Martin Haab added, \u201cSuleiman Khalil is a hero, and he must be set free immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">CSI has launched a campaign to free Khalil, allowing supporters to send messages directly to Syria\u2019s foreign minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, urging his immediate release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>By Jwan Shekaki<\/strong><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) \u2013 Six Swiss parliamentarians on Wednesday called on Syria\u2019s 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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":131848,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pgc_sgb_lightbox_settings":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[39,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-131847","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-home","category-world"],"yoast_head":"<!-- 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