Clashes erupted in Jaramana, a suburb of Syria's capital, resulting in at least nine fatalities due to rising sectarian violence. The unrest, intensifying since President Bashar al-Assad's downfall, was incited by an audio clip purportedly by Druze cleric Marwan Kiwan, which offended many Sunni Muslims. Kiwan denied his involvement and condemned the clip as a hateful act aimed at provoking discord among Syrians. The Interior Ministry is now investigating the incident while urging adherence to laws to maintain security amid increasing tensions among different sects in Syria.
"I categorically deny that the audio was made by me," Kiwan said in a video he posted online. "I did not say that and whoever made it is an evil man who wants to incite strife between components of the Syrian people."
The Interior Ministry said in a statement it was investigating the audio clip, adding that its initial probe showed the cleric was not responsible. The ministry urged people to abide by the law and not to act in a way that undermines security.
Collection
[
|
...
]