Press release
Syrian Opposition Coalition
Department of Media and Communications
January 30, 2022
The Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) mourns the renowned Syrian Islamic scholar and thinker Jawdat Said who passed away in Istanbul on Sunday at the age of 91, a lifetime that he spent in the pursuit of knowledge, intellectual activity, and the promotion of peace and non-violence.
Said did not fear the tyranny of the Assad regime as he frequently spoke out against the regime’s policies. Throughout his lifetime, he called for peace that he did not find: The Israeli occupation forced him from his town of Buriqa in the Golan Heights; the Assad regime forced him from all of Syria in response to his bold views opposing injustice, tyranny and terrorist practices that the regime escalated with the start of the Syrian revolution in 2011.
Said is one of the most prominent symbols of contemporary Islamic thought. He left behind an enduring intellectual and moral legacy whose light will continue to shine for generations to come, reminding people of the doctrine of the first son of Adam.
The late Said was known for his asceticism, honesty, courage and boldness in expressing his views. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, students and lovers, praying that Allah grant him mercy, forgiveness, and the highest place in paradise.
