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"Put it in our mill" — Commander Ahmad al-Dalati's remark sparks ridicule
Brig. Gen. Ahmad al-Dalati of the Syrian "Transitional" Government provoked widespread ridicule and outrage on social media after telling relatives of detainees from Ain Minnin Municipality that if there were "excesses by some brothers... put it in our mill" ("hattuha bi daqna").
Activists and journalists criticized the wording and substance of the remark, saying it showed contempt for the families' demands and a harsh attitude toward detainees' affairs. Some questioned the role of state and security institutions and whether the Transitional Government's authorities are committed to protecting citizens' rights, denouncing unclear calls to resolve disputes by means that could be interpreted as encouraging violence or evasion. The phrase quickly became a hashtag and sparked angry comments reflecting public frustration with officials' rhetoric, with growing calls for authorities to clarify their position and follow legal procedures that respect detainees' dignity and their families' rights.
After a wave of popular anger coinciding with a general strike, shop closures, and a sit-in by detainees' families in Ain Minnin Municipality, the Syrian Ministry of Interior on Sunday released several young men who had been arrested by public security two days earlier amid the tensions.
