Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Aleppo (Agenzia Fides) - Sam Ghannoum, a 28 year-old young Christian Armenian singer, who was arrested on October 15 by the Syrian secret services after his criticism to the regime, was released and returned to his family in Aleppo. As Fides Agency learns from the "Syrian Non-Violence Movement," a group in the Syrian opposition, a supporter of non-violent political solution to the ongoing conflict, Sam, his father and uncle - also under police custody - were released and returned to their home in Aleppo. The news caused great joy in the Armenian Christian community. "It is very rare today to hear some good news from Syria, but today is an exception," says to Fides a note by the "Syrian Non-Violence Movement". The movement then raises the proposal of a "negotiated settlement" and would like the appeal to "non-violence" to have more space in the media and the international community.
A month ago Fides published the call for the release of Sam Ghannoum (see Fides 06/11/2012). Sam is known for his compositions made of eastern classical melodies, sweet and enchanting, and for songs that present the Christian message of love and peace. Sam is one of the young Syrians who, in recent months, on his Facebook page, criticized the government and said he was close to the original ideals of the Syrian revolution: democracy, freedom, human rights. (PA) Agenzia Fides 10/12/2012)
