British Politician Claims Syrian Rebels Dominated by Radical Islamists
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Scott Peterson/Getty Images(DAMASCUS, Syria) — A British lawmaker on the far right is warning that Syria’s opposition forces have been taken over by radical Islamists who are only interested in committing terrorist acts.
Nick Griffin, who leads the British National Party, says he’s on a fact-finding mission that has brought him to Damascus, where he claims to have witnessed the aftermath of Tuesday’s suicide bomb assault in the center of the capital.
According to Griffin, the ongoing two-year conflict could result in Syria being transformed from a “stable secular state into an Iraq-style hell of sectarian hate.”
While being invited with representatives from other countries by the Syrian government to observe the situation, a spokesman for Griffin insists the BNP leader is not acting as a mouthpiece for President Bashar al-Assad.
Nevertheless, Griffin disagrees with the British government’s proposal to arm Syrian rebels, saying it was “More madness from the people who dragged us to costly war in Iraq & Afghan[istan].”
While most in Parliament don’t agree with Griffin’s far-right views, there are many members of Parliament who are opposed to arming rebels, contending that it will only escalate the conflict.
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