Muslim American Groups Demand Russia Stop Bombing Syria

Muslim American groups delivered a letter to Russia's Ambassador to the U.S. on Thursday, calling on Moscow to stop airstrikes in Syria. 



Zaher Sahloul, a senior advisor and board member of the Syrian American Medical Society, said the coalition of groups has asked Russia to be more productive in Russia.



"Stop bombing of the hospitals, stop bombing civilians in Syria. Lay a constructive role in enforcing the Syrian regime to accept a political compromise that will satisfy the aspiration of the Syrian people in the bloodshed in Syria," he said during a press conference in front of he embassy. 



The head of media and communications at the Muslim Public Affairs Council, Rabiah Ahmed, said the consortium wants the Russian government "to cease military strikes that have killed civilians and has destroyed infrastructure" in Syria. 



She added that multiple hospitals were destroyed and hundreds of civilians were killed since Russia began military operations in Syria in late September.



Based in Turkey's southeastern city of Gaziantep, Dr. Majeed Aboali of the United Medical Office of Eastern Ghota that provides health care for Syrian refugees, said more than 10 hospitals were targeted in Syria in the last 10 days due to the ongoing bombing and airstrikes. 



"More than 90 percent of civilians who were killed in Syria, were killed by airstrikes. More than 95 percent of the hospitals which were targeted in Syria were targeted by airstrikes. The main cause of death is airstrikes," he said.



"Those doctors are shocked by this new death. There are more military jets and there's more killing," he added. 



Director of Policy and Advocacy of Muslim Public Affairs Council, Hoda Hawa also stressed that Russian airstrikes in Syria would only worsen an already devastating humanitarian crisis and urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to change policy.



"Russia's role is becoming increasingly detrimental to the aspirations of the Syrian people for their fight for freedom and human dignity against the tyranny," she said. 



In addition to calling for an end to airstrikes, some in the group also urged the Obama administration to take more action.



Suzanne Meriden, the Director of Operations of the Syrian American Council demanded President Barack Obama establish "a no fly zone and safe zones in strategic areas inside Syria". 



Azhar Azeez, the President of Islamic Society of North America, said the U.S. should increase from 10,000 to more than 50,000, the number of Syrian refugees it accepts.



"The current proposal by the administration to allow 10,000 to resettle is not sufficient given the magnitude of our nation," he said, adding Russia could have contributed to help solve the problem in Syria rather than worsening the situation.



"We ask upon the Russian federation and its citizens to stand shoulder to shoulder and help in restoring the dignity of life to the people who have had to come back over such hardships," Azeez said.



Spokeswoman for the coalition, Rabiah Ahmed, said the group would go to Capitol Hill on Friday to lobby for Syria to become a bigger priority on the U.S.'s agenda.



The group also delivered a letter to Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak in which it outlined its condemnation of the airstrikes. The embassy did not accept the letter but the group slipped it under the gate.



Russian warplanes began striking Syrian opposition targets inside Syria on Sept. 30. 



Moscow insists it is targeting only Daesh and other affiliated groups but Western countries and their Gulf allies believe moderate opponents of [Syrian President Bashar] Assad – along with civilians – are bearing the brunt of the Russian airstrikes. - Washington DC