Syrian-Egyptian Actress Raghda: If Al-Assad Resigns, I Will Accuse Him of Treason, Aleppo Was Not Bombed by Planes

In a TV interview on April 30, as the social media campaign #AleppoIsBurning gained momentum, Syrian-Egyptian actress Raghda said: "This is an Erdoganist-Qatari-Zionist electronic campaign par excellence." Saying that "not a single airplane [bombed Aleppo]," Raghda reiterated her support of Bashar Al-Assad, saying: "If [Al-Assad] resigns, I will accuse him of treason." The interview aired on the Egyptian CBC TV channel.

 

Following are excerpts

 

 

Raghda: It's beneath Aleppo to have people shedding tears for it, and writing slogans like "Save Aleppo." No way. Read the history of Aleppo, and you will see that many invaders tried to capture Aleppo. The Tatars... Aleppo was destroyed by an earthquake, but its people rebuilt it from scratch. I know Aleppo. I know Aleppo better [than foreigners]. No one should preach to me about Aleppo. No one should pretend to weep over Aleppo. Aleppo will prevail.

 

 

[...]

 

 

I stick to my positions. I haven't changed them. Absolutely not.

 

 

Interviewer: After five years...

 

 

Raghda: Even if it takes ten years...

 

 

Interviewer: Despite all the people who have died, you haven't changed your mind...

 

 

Raghda: Absolutely not. Who killed them?

 

 

Interviewer: 300,000 people have died, Raghda.

 

 

Raghda: Even more.

 

 

Interviewer: So even more. And there are refugees... Despite all this, you don't feel that Bashar Al-Assad is responsible for these crimes, even to a certain extent?

 

 

Raghda: No, and I'm not saying this to defend him. Let me reiterate, Lamis, I'm not saying this to defend Dr. Bashar Al-Assad, the president of the Arab Republic. Let me repeat what I said when the events started to unfold in Syria: This is not a war over Syria, but a war in Syria. This is a regional and international conflict. The [#AleppoIsBurning] campaign began on April 28. Who is behind it? This is an Erdoganist-Qatari-Zionist electronic campaign par excellence. "Save Aleppo!" "Aleppo Is Burning!" "Aleppo Is Dying!" "The Martyrs". Hasn't anybody wondered why this is happening now? Aleppo is being destroyed for five years now. Erdogan's dream is to take over Aleppo. Not a single airplane bombed [Aleppo], madam.

 

 

Interviewer: You mean that all that we saw...

 

 

Raghda: You talk about the UN, the Red Cross, and their video... To hell with the UN! To hell with the Red Cross! What do you think about that? Who the hell are they? We know who controls the UN. Let me reiterate: Not a single airplane (bombed Aleppo)... If only! They would have pulverized the strongholds of the terrorists, who attack the wretched civilians in my own street, my own home. This is where I grew up, Lamis.

 

 

[...]

 

 

If [Bashar Al-Assad] resigns, I will accuse him of treason. If he resigns or flees, like Zine Al-Abidine... He had many opportunities.

 

 

[...]

 

If today, the Kurds demand a state... I don't know if you heard, but they are demanding a state now...

 

Interviewer: I know, of course.

 

 

Raghda: If [Al-Assad] had resigned, Syria would have been ripe for partitioning into several mini-states.

 

 

Interviewer: And right now it is not ripe for partitioning?

 

 

Raghda: Absolutely not!

 

 

Interviewer: Syria is not ripe for partitioning?!

 

Raghda: No, unless you are a follower of Al-Jazeera TV.

 

Interviewer: I'm not, but...

 

 

Raghda: Let me finish...

 

 

Interviewer: Syria is not ripe for partitioning?!

 

 

Raghda: No.

 

 

Interviewer: Syria is still a united country?

 

 

Raghda: Yes!

 

 

[...]

 

 

My hair bothers me a lot, but I vow to keep it and to cut and scatter it in Aleppo's Saadallah Al-Jabiri Square only when the last terrorist leaves, along with the last takfirist, the last Muslim Brotherhood member, and the last Salafi, sponsored by we all know which countries in the region and elsewhere. I am taking this oath here in public: I shall keep this hair, and then I shall cut it and throw it there. When it all started, I declared that I supported the unity of Syria and the state. I declared this at Saadallah Al-Jabiri Square. I hereby take an oath to return there. Aleppo will prevail. It does not need anyone to pretend to be weeping over it, because it produces real men.

 

 

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