Press release
Syrian National Coalition – Syria
Department of Media and Communications
November 12, 2019
The Syrian National Coalition extends its sincere condolences to the followers of the Armenian Catholic Church of St. Joseph in Syria and to all the Syrian people for the passing of the Armenian Catholic priest Father Hovsep Bidoyan.
The Coalition strongly condemns the murder of Father Hovsep Bidoyan, who was gunned down in the town of Al-Riz in the province of Deir Ezzor on Monday while on his way to a church in eastern Syria.
Regardless of the details and circumstances surrounding this crime, which took place in areas under the control of the SDF militia and militias affiliated with the Assad regime, the crime carried all the hallmarks of the Assad regime whose hands are stained with the blood of the Syrian people, whether it directly targeted the priest or done so through thuggish militias operating under its orders.
This crime will fail to achieve any of its malicious goals, just like all attempts to terrorize the Syrian people; provoke strife; intimidate the Syrian people; and force them out of their land.
This heinous crime will only strengthen the determination of the Syrian people to defeat terrorism and tyranny and their supporters. We call on our people to combine efforts in order to alleviate the suffering and bring the tragedy to an end.
May our wounded recover, our detainees be free, and our fallen heroes rest in peace.
Long live Syria and its people, free and with honor.
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