Irish Syria Solidarity Movement

RIP Syrian Human Rights Defender #KhalilMatouq

He was last seen in September 2013, in Military Security Branch 235, Damascus, known as the 'Palestine Branch'.

Our deepest sympathy to all those who love and grieve him.

#SyriasDisappeared

tensofthousands.amnesty.org/content/khal...

Catherine Connolly met with a militia leader who committed war crimes against Palestinian refugees.

Saed Abd Al-Aal led a pro-Assad armed group responsible for killing, starvation & forced displacement of Palestinians in the refugee camp in Yarmouk.

www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...

June 2018
Paediatrician @annie_sparrow
6 yrs exp in Syria
gave incontrovertible evidence to Dáil JFAC
of Assad stealing 50%++ of UN aid

Catherine Connolly
in a disgraceful letter
contradicted her
& insisted aid continue to go to Assad

& disgustingly insulted true humanitarian Dr Sparrow

Who is Saed Abd al-Aal, the commander of the murderous pro-Assad militia who showed Catherine Connolly around Yarmouk camp?

Why did she never mention 'facts' about him & the slaughter of Palestinians there on her return?

Ms Connolly's 'fact-finding' trip to Syria brought back no facts

She never spoke of Assad slaughter of Palestinians in Yarmouk.

Imagine a TD going to Gaza, meeting IDF commander, coming back with nothing to say but ask to lift sanctions on Israel, & leave IDF in control of aid

For 14 yrs we witnessed & spoke about what we witnessed as Syria was annihilated by the Assad regime.

We called out Irish TDs & MEPs whose actions aided & abetted the regime.

We often spoke into a void.

Most disappointing was that many on the left ignored Syrian suffering totally.

Catherine Connolly met with a militia leader who committed war crimes against Palestinian refugees.

Saed Abd Al-Aal led a pro-Assad armed group responsible for killing, starvation & forced displacement of Palestinians in the refugee camp in Yarmouk.

www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...

irishsyria on Instagram: "Catherine Connolly failed to answer questions about her infamous trip to Syria with Clare Daly, Mick Wallace et al. This video fea…" Catherine Connolly failed to answer questions about her infamous trip to Syria with Clare Daly, Mick Wallace et al. This video featuring leaders of the Syrian community in Ireland and the country’s leading campaign group, all directly involved and protested that visit at the time, reveal why it cannot be ignored and must be addressed during the presidential election campaign.#CatherineConnolly #ClareDaly #MickWallace #Syria #Yarmouk #Assad #Warcrimes #CrimesAgainstHumanity #áras25View all comments

ISSM:

Connolly & 3 other TDs visit to Syria in 2018 provided a lifeline to the regime.

She went on a 'fact-finding' mission & came back with no facts about Assad Russia Iran warcrimes & atrocities.

Never mentioned #Seydnaya death camp.

www.instagram.com/reel/DP0w11X...

At least 20 civilians killed in North Darfur air raid by SAF - Dabanga Radio TV Online Reports indicate that at least 20 civillains, including women, children, and elders, were killed, and...

At least 20 civilians killed in North Darfur air raid by SAF www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/...

#CatherineConnolly #Aras25 #Syria #Yarmouk #Palestine

4 Irish MPs toured Yarmouk camp, site of starvation siege, bombing & forced displacement of tens of thousands of Palestinians - with the perpetrator of these atrocities.

Their guide was Saed Abd al-Aal, commander of the 'Free Palestine Movement', guilty of mass killing of civilians in Yarmouk

The FPM was instrumental in imposing a years-long starvation siege of the Palestinian camp.

One member under al-Aal's command, Mofeq al-Daouah, was accused of multiple counts of rape & of a massacre when he fired a rocket into a crowd of residents queuing for aid & imprisoned for life in Germany.

Catherine Connolly has not admitted nor explained her meeting with Saed Abd al-Aal,
commander of the Free Palestine Movement,
known as the butchers of Yarmouk.
FPM acted as enforcers for Assad, through massacres & rape, in the Palestinian camp of Yarmouk.

telegra.ph/Open-Letter-...

Rape and torture in Assad's prisons: Syrian women break their silence During the brutal 13-year Syrian civil war, Bashar al-Assad's regime imprisoned women for their real or presumed links to the “terrorist” opposition. Many endured rape, sexual violence, and torture du...

Rape and torture in Assad's prisons: Syrian women break their silence

www.france24.com/en/middle-ea...

Why did #CatherineConnolly not carry out “due diligence” check on either militia commander Saed Abd al-Aal or high-ranking Assadist Fares al-Shehabi?

At best, lack of judgement -- At worst, effective support for propaganda of a murderous regime in #Syria

#Aras25 #Ireland

(3/3)

Now we learn that #CatherineConnolly guide in #Yarmouk camp was Saed Abd al-Aal, military commander of “Free Palestine Movement”, militia working w #Assad regime

Did she know that al-Aal was head of militia accused of mass killing of civilians?

#Syria #Ireland #Aras25

(2/3)

Thread: Serious questions for Presidential candidate #CatherineConnolly re 2018 trip - funded by #Ireland taxpayers - to #Assad regime’s #Syria

She finally said her guide in #Aleppo was high-ranking Assadist Fares al-Shehabi but claimed she did not know his role

#Aras25

(1/3)

@irishtimes.bsky.social
@corkbeo.bsky.social
@tonyconnelly.bsky.social
@newstalk.bsky.social
@dublinfreelance.org
@newsireland.eu

@johnmeaghermedia.bsky.social
@nathanrjohns.bsky.social
@fotoole.bsky.social
@gavanreilly.bsky.social
@sarahrmcinerney.bsky.social
@clairebyrne.bsky.social
@rtenews.bsky.social
@virginmedianews.bsky.social
@thejournal.bsky.social
@irishexaminer.bsky.social
@independent_ie.bsky.social

Al-Aal & his murderous band committed war crimes & atrocities. Connolly & fellow TDs meeting & being photographed with them legitimised & endorsed them.

Altho she was on a 'fact finding' mission, she never spoke about the facts of the horrific crimes of her hosts in Yarmouk.

...In 2023, he was identified by relatives of his victims living in Germany & condemned by the courts there to life imprisonment for his crimes in Yarmouk...

The FPM imposed the years-long starvation & siege of Yarmouk. One of its members, Mofeq al-Daouah, earned the title "The Butcher of Yarmouk", accused of multiple counts of rape & of a massacre when he fired a rocket-propelled grenade into a crowd of residents queuing for aid....

Catherine Connolly says she met 'Palestinians' in Yarmouk. She 'can't remember' their names

We know

Her guide in Yarmouk was Saed Abd Al-Aal, commander of the Free Palestine Movement, the 'Butchers of Yarmouk', where the FPM operated as enforcers for Assad thru massacres & rape.

Dear
@catherinegalway.bsky.social

You have spoken a lot in your campaign about your honesty and your dislike of hypocrisy. You have also claimed to support the Palestinian people. We, the Irish Syria Solidarity Movement, have questions.

telegra.ph/Open-Letter-...

On #InternationalChildrensDay2025

ISSM joined @Ilw_Ukraine
to demand the return of tens of thousands of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.

Genocidal actions.

Syrians know the agony of disappeared children.

#Stand4Children everywhere

#SlavaUkraini
#FreeSyria
#SaveGaza

Today, 7 years later, we remember the victims of the Assad chemical weapons attack on #Douma & send our sympathy to those grieving their loved ones.

May Assad & all who worked for & enabled him face justice for their hideous crimes
bringingassadtojustice.com

#DonotSuffocateTruth

On the 8th anniversary of the massacre of over 80 civilians, including children,
by Assad using Sarin gas

We remember #KhanSheikhoun

We sympathise with those grieving their loved ones

We demand Justice

#DoNotSuffocateTruth
#JusticeForSyria
#BringAssadtoJustice

Darayya’s Sacrifice As it celebrates Assad’s fall, one family on the outskirts of Damascus mourns the price that it — and countless others — paid for Syria’s freedom

Mayada Mattar is serving plates of sweets,a tradition in Arab homes at times of celebration

“Ghiyath said, ‘When the regime falls, please serve sweets,’” Mayada says of her son.

“I wish my children could see the victory they fought for years ago.”
🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

newlinesmag.com/spotlight/a-...

We just wanted to take a moment to thank all our new supporters! Tomorrow, there will be more of us!

بمناسبة الذكرى الرابعة عشرة للثورة السورية حركة التضامن الأيرلندية السورية ستقوم بوقفة امام المفوضية الأوروبية، 12-14 شارع ماونت، دبلن يوم غد الأحد 16 مارس، الساعة 12 ظهرًا
أشجع كل من يستطيع القدوم ان يفعل