Tortured body of Syrian cleric found in Damascus outskirts over week after abduction
The body of a moderate Sunni Muslim preacher abducted by a group of unknown militants more than a week ago has been found on the outskirts of the Syrian capital Damascus with signs of torture before his death.
The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Sheikh Omar Houri’s corpse was found in Jobar town on the eastern outskirts of Damascus on Sunday, ten days after having been kidnapped by unidentified individuals.
A group of netizens said on social media platforms that Sheikh Houri was forcibly disappeared by armed men affiliated to the ruling Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) administration over his connection with the deposed government of president Bashar al-Assad.
Syria’s de facto rulers have made no comments on the assertions.
The deceased moderate Syrian cleric was reportedly the imam of al-Tinbiya Mosque in the al-Midan neighborhood of Damascus, and had a prominent role in local reconciliation agreements in Damascus suburbs.
Militants, led by HTS, took control of Damascus on December 8 and declared an end to Assad’s rule in a surprise offensive that was launched from their stronghold in northwestern Syria, reaching the capital in less than two weeks.
The situation in the Arab country remains fluid and fragile, amid the ongoing political instability.
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