George Sabra was elected the leader of a body that has come under heavy criticism from international allies for being both ineffective in the fight against the Syrian regime, and too much under the sway of the Muslim Brotherhood.
“The choice of a Christian as leader proves that there is truth when the Syrian people shout that they are one, one, one. It shows that we are not sectarian,” said Mr Sabra, speaking from the plush, heavily decorated conference room in Doha where the voting took place.
Mr Sabra’s chances of becoming leader had seemed doomed just a day before when he had failed even to gain enough votes to be elected to the SNC executive committee, the body from which the leader is drawn.
Hours before the election Wazel Shimali, a member of the SNC executive gave up his seat for Mr Sabra. “Never have I seen two men fighting to give up their places,” said Mr Sabra.
The Telegraph
A 65-year-old geography teacher, Mr Sabra comes from the mixed Damascus suburb of Qatana and marched in early street demonstrations demanding Assad’s removal last year before fleeing the country when secret police began targeting prominent pro-democracy campaigners.
