“I was shocked to learn about the mass executions of deserters by the Syrian army, in particular in the provinces of Idlib and Homs. I utterly condemn the excessive violence perpetrated by the Syrian regime.
Yesterday’s decision by President Assad to enable capital punishment to be applied from now on to arms traders seems to be just another pretext to persecute even more people.
It is abominable to see how Bashar al-Assad and his helpers cling to power, riding roughshod over the Syrian people’s yearning for dignity and freedom. Those responsible for the violence must immediately cease their attacks against deserters and demonstrators.”