Archbishop Capucci demonstrating for Gaza
By Forward Magazine
The original story said that only one Syrian, ex-schoolteacher Shaza Barakat, had been onboard the Freedom Flotilla and that she is now in Israeli captivity. It is now clear that three other Syrians were onboard the Turkish ship attacked by Israel at 4 am on May 31, where 20 civilians were killed and another 50 were wounded. Barakat, however, was the only Syrian female onboard the Freedom Fleet headed to the Gaza Strip.
The remaining Syrians are Hasan Rifaii (43), Mohammad Salta (47) and Hilarion Capucci (88) the famous ex-Archbishop of Jerusalem who although Palestinian, holds Syrian nationality. Cappuci, a household name in Syria, is hailed as a struggler by yonug and old for his fierce defiance of Israel, which landed him in jail back in 1974, where he was sentenced to 12 years behind bars for support of the Palestinian resistance. He was eventually released in 1977 and exiled to the Vatican, where he still lives, traveling at length to promote Arab causes, becoming an unofficial ambassador for the Palestinians.
According to Syria’s Grand Mufti Ahmad Hassoun, Capucci bid him farewell in Damascus before heading off to board the Freedom Flotilla, saying: “I hope that I can land on the shores of Palestine, and that I die, and get the chance to burried in my beloved country!”
Cappuci had been honored with postal stamps carrying his image in Syria, Libya, Iraq, and Sudan.
Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid al-Mouallem sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon, saying that the UN shoulders full responsibility for the safety of the 4 Syrians. Unconfirmed reports are saying that while most of the detained activists have been taken to a prison in Bir al-Sabei (Beersheba in Hebrew and English) for interrogation, the Syrian woman Shaza Barakat has been taken to Askalan (Ashkelon), which is a prison for those spending long prison terms, already convicted by Israeli courts.
Meanwhile, Ali al-Oweissi (a Palestinian with British nationality) and the son of Professor Abd al-Fattah Oweissi, Dean of the Faculty of International Relations at Kalamoon University in Syria, has been confirmed alive and well but also, in Israeli jails in Bir al-Sabei for having been onboard the Turkish ship, Marmara.
Filed under: Media in Syria |
Untold Damascene Stories 
Israel must not free only Shaza and the other Syrians on the ship, Gaza must be freed and the whole region.
It is a big shame what we are watching before our eyes.
Israel just doing everything she wants and the whole world is unable to lift the block aid on Gaza.
We need to lift the block aid form the minds of people around the world and especially decision makers..
Europe needed 10 million souls to understand Hitler was a crap , maybe we need a third world war to convince the Israelis that this is situation is unbearable so such life.
NA
Some errors: Fatalities 9 dead NOT 20.
Cappucci? A terrorist who was arrested when he was trying to smuggle weapons. This does not go along with his functions. He wanted to die? So why are you complaining about the deads? They are NOW all with their lot of virgens…. And where do you expect the Syrians would be sent? To a Hotel? No to prison. Get a life ya hmar
my first response to abou Ali first go get a life then learn how to be a human being peoples are dying fro hunger and lack of medication what kind of human are you. think about the world and whats going on I srael always being the butcher of the man kind and always try to change the facts to their benefits, some time they succeed but this time everything is clear and obvious