generalspeaking

The Chief Justice of the court of Deir al-Zour in eastern Syria, Ali al-Aoun, announced his defection from Bashar al-Assad’s regime citing the systematic killing of the Syrian people.

“The Syrian regime is embarking on a genocidal campaign against the people with the help of its allies,” Aoun said in a special interview with Al Arabiya.

Aoun, who was also a member of the ruling Baath Party, said that dozens of Syrian officials and party members are going to follow in his footsteps very soon.

“They have all defected since the first days of the revolution, but were waiting for the right time to make their defection public. This specifically applies to the judiciary.”

Aoun labeled former Syrian Prime Minister Riad Hijab, who defected in August 2012, as “the father of defectors,” in that his act encouraged many Syrian officials to turn their back on the regime.

“The coming stage will witness major defections now that many officials have managed to have their families out of Syria and safely settled in Jordan or Turkey,” he concluded.

Aoun said he is thankful to the Free Syrian Army, the main armed Syrian opposition, for helping him get his extended family out of Syria.

Regarding the progress of the uprising, Aoun argued that the Syrian regime has already fallen and that the liberation of the city of al-Bukamal in the Deir al-Zour governorate is very symbolic in this regard.

“Al-Bukamal is the first city that defeated the French occupation in the past, which means that it is a city known for its resistance. It will also be a safe haven for defectors and Free Syrian Army officers.”