BEIRUT: Former Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss criticized Monday the Arab League’s economic sanctions on Syria over its brutal crackdown on anti-government protests.

“Arab brothers continued imposing sanctions on Syria. One asks: Do those realize that with their action that they are not punishing the Syrian state as much as they are punishing the Syrian people?”

Hoss asked in a statement on behalf of the National Unity Forum. “What is the guilt of the Syrian people about what is happening?

Also, is Syria the only Arab state that is committing sins against its people?

In fact, there are states among Arab countries where the ruling groups were based on tyranny and survived on it. All of them, at different degrees, do not know any freedom or democracy,” Hoss added.