March 16, 2012: Imam Safwat Hejazi, a prominent Egyptian cleric issued a Fatwa calling for the assassination of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. “He who has the chance to kill Al-Assad and does not do this is a sinner,” “Hadn’t I been a known face, I would have gone myself and killed him,”  Imam Safwat Hejazi told a rally held in Cairo in support of a popular revolt against Al-Assad’s rule.

Hejazi was a prominent figure in the popular uprising against ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak.  Hejazi added that his anti-Assad fatwa [religious edict] has been echoed by many Muslim clerics.

UN Human Rights officials allege some 230,000 Syrians have been displaced in the ongoing unrest, many of whom have made their way to Egypt. The London-based Observatory for Human Rights has said that a total of 9,114, have been killed since the outbreak of the uprising in the country.  The civilian death toll, they stated, stands at 6,645. UN Human Rights officials, however, have stated the civilian death toll is “at least 7,500.”

Reports of war crimes by forces loyal to Assad have become prevalent as the oppression in Syria intensifies, including sustained artillery and sniper fire on neighborhoods the government claims is “harboring terrorists.” Local residents and human rights activists have reported operations in retaken rebel strongholds include mass executions and the systemic rape and torture of survivors.

Six-members of the Gulf Cooperation Council closed their embassies in Syria. Saudi Arabia and Bahrain had previously recalled their ambassadors. Last month, Egypt recalled its ambassador for Damascus, which prompted the aforementioned to withdraw its own envoy in protest.

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