Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said that the “Arab identity starts to return to its right position after the fall of the Muslim Brotherhood and disclosing the reality of the trends that use the religion for its narrow interests.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said that the “Arab identity starts to return to its right position after the fall of the Muslim Brotherhood and disclosing the reality of the trends that use the religion for its narrow interests.”

In an interview published by Syrian daily, al-Baath, Assad said what he had meant by the term of “Political Islam” are those parties which take advantage of religion.
The Brotherhood "takes advantage of religion and uses it as a mask... and it thinks that if you don't agree with it politically, that means you don't stand by God", said Assad.

He pointed out that "this is not the case with Iran and Hezbollah," he added.
Hezbollah "does not judge people based on religion or sect, but rather on patriotism and politics," said Assad.

One must "distinguish between those who use religion for the benefit of a few, and those who use religion to defend causes that are just and right," the Syrian leader said.

On the other hand, Assad considered as unrealistic talks that workers, who are seen as the popular base of the Baath party, are those who turn against the party.

He stressed that “those defending the nation now are the workers and farmers... some of them are in the army, others defending their land.”

"The struggle now is between those who are ignorant and those who are aware, between the patriots and the collaborators, between extremists and moderates,” President Assad said.

Commenting on the reshuffle made y the Baath party this week, the Syrian leader said that the real role of the party’s central committee is to hold accountable the leaders on a regular basis, noting that “this did not happen in recent years.”

The central committee should "monitor the leadership's work, evaluate it and hold the leaders accountable", added Assad.

Earlier on Monday the Baath party announced the names of 16 new leaders, which included none of the party's former chiefs with the exception of Assad, who will remain secretary general.