Some crazy comments from "secular" Assad yesterday:

"Some believe that one of the requirements of secularism, or the essence of secularism, is separating religion from the state; this is wrong, there is no relation between secularism and separating religion from the state."

"Some of those who went out of mosques in the beginning of the war were atheists."

"Neoliberalism marketed drugs, saying that they are not harmful, and it's now sold legally ... you can, in some places, you can now order some kinds of bread that have the flavour of this drug."

"Neoliberalism marketed the idea that the child does not choose his religion by himself, and that this is a violation of this person's freedom. He is born without a religion and then chooses his religion when he gets older [they say], but this is contrary to human nature."