Turkish deputy PM criticizes Iran, Lebanon over Syria stance.
IranAFP - Turkey’s deputy prime minister Bulent Arinc slammed Iran on Sunday over “its silence” on the Syrian regime’s “suppression” of anti-regime protesters, AFP reported.
“I address you, the Iranian Islamic Republic. I do not know if you are worthy of carrying the name of Islam, but have you said one statement to comment on what is happening in Syria?” Arinc asked, according to the Anatolia news agency.
He also criticized the “big massacre” committed by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Homs, which according to a rights group left more than 200 dead.
“Turkey was the only country in the region to condemn this suppression. Has Lebanon said one word to voice its sympathy with our Muslim brothers who are being killed? No, only Turkey raised its voice.”
Syrian forces killed at least 217 civilians, including women and children, in a "massacre" in the central city of Homs, a rights group said Saturday.
Syria has witnessed anti-regime protests since mid-March. The United Nations estimates that more than 6,000 people have been killed the regime’s crackdown on dissent.
Damascus has repeatedly blamed “armed terrorist groups” for the unrest.