Riyadh (Saudi Arabia): A Saudi cleric has advised Muslim youth against joining Syrian rebel fighters in the 19-month civil war against President Bashar Assad`s regime.
Salman al-Audah warns that their presence among the rebels might serve the Assad regime`s claim that the rebellion is the work of terrorist groups.
He told the Al-Jazeera satellite channel today that the Syrian rebels need money, weapons and prayers.
Al-Audah said a few Muslim fighters joining the Syrian rebels won`t change the course of the conflict, but it could undermine European support. He said Europeans could associate foreign Muslim fighters with terrorists.
Al-Audah`s comments were carried on his website.
There are no reliable figures for the number of foreign fighters in Syria. Estimates put the number in the hundreds.
PTI
