The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Sunday that it had reached a memorandum of understanding with Moscow for the beginning of a “process of reorganizing the Russian presence on the Syrian coast.” The ministry reported that the two sides had agreed to “redefine the function of military-related bases and facilities, transforming them from military bases into joint training and rehabilitation centers, within new arrangements that preserve mutual interests.” The ministry described this step as “the most significant development since negotiations began approximately a year and a half ago, opening the way for a different phase in Syrian-Russian relations.”

It is an announcement that leaves even the most patient bewildered! Russia’s crimes against Muslims in general, and the people of ash-Sham in particular, have gone beyond description and imagination. Russia was a major and pivotal supporter of Bashar al-Assad’s criminal regime throughout the years of the revolution. Since 2011, Russia began providing political and diplomatic support to the regime when protests erupted, repeatedly using its veto power at the UN Security Council to protect it, alongside indirect logistical and military support. It then intervened militarily and directly on its side on 30 September 2015, inflicting suffering upon the people of al-Sham through bombardment, destruction, killing, and displacement. How, then, can it be consistent with this for Syria to conclude an agreement of cooperation and understanding with Russia?!

Russia fought us because of our Deen, drove us from our homes, and supported our expulsion. Therefore, the words of Allah (swt) apply to it:

[إِنَّمَا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ قَاتَلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَأَخْرَجُوكُم مِّن دِيَارِكُمْ وَظَاهَرُوا عَلَىٰ إِخْرَاجِكُمْ أَن تَوَلَّوْهُمْ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُمْ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ]

“Allah only forbids you from those who fight you because of religion and expel you from your homes and aid in your expulsion—from taking them as allies. And whoever takes them as allies, then it is they who are the wrongdoers” [Al-Mumtahanah: 9]. No argument or excuse can justify the Syrian government ignoring Russia’s grave actions against us and dealing with it as an ally. How many bereaved women in ash-Sham mourn husbands killed by Russia? How many children mourn fathers, uncles, or grandfathers killed by Russia? How many mothers have shed all their tears mourning their children whom Russia killed or displaced? How many homes, houses, buildings, neighborhoods, schools, and mosques did Russia destroy over the heads of their inhabitants, reducing them to rubble?

Indeed, Russia’s crimes against Muslims in general, and against the people of ash-Sham in particular, are almost beyond counting. The relationship with Russia that pleases Allah (swt), is to expel it from our lands and sever relations with it completely, and to seek retribution for what it has committed against us.

The way to achieve this, according to the statement, is to make ash-Sham the nucleus of a Khalifah Rashidah (Rightly Guided Caliphate) on the method of the Prophethood. The courageous people of ash-Sham who brought down one of the greatest tyrants of this era are, by Allah’s permission, capable of doing so and worthy of it. They are people of determination and resolve, and the entire Ummah looks toward them and sees ash-Sham as among the finest lands of Allah (swt) and a place containing some of His chosen servants. The Messenger of Allah (saw) said:

«عَلَيْكَ بِالشَّامِ، فَإِنَّهَا خِيرَةُ اللهِ مِنْ أَرْضِهِ، يَجْتَبِي إِلَيْهَا خِيرَتَهُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ»

“Go to Syria, for it is Allah’s chosen land, to which He gathers His chosen servants.”

The Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir