An opposition Syrian Islamic body has elected a senior Muslim cleric to serve as “Mufti of the Republic” after the regime of President Bashar al-Assad announced earlier this week that it had abolished the post. The Syrian Islamic Council said late on Saturday that 77-year-old Sheikh Osama Al-Rifaie will serve as the new Mufti. In Syria, the Mufti of the Republic issues religious decrees and rulings and determines during religious occasions, such as the start and end of Ramadan. Similar positions exist in other Arab and Muslim countries. Until the Assad regime abolished the post, Ahmed Badreddi…

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