ALEPPO, Syria, June 11 (UPI) -- The killing of a teenager allegedly by al-Qaida-linked fighters who accused him of blasphemy has been condemned by Syrian rebels and activists, officials say.
A spokesman for the Free Syrian Army said the death of Mohammad Qataa was an act of "terrorism," the BBC reported Tuesday.
There was "no justification" for the killing and those responsible should hand themselves over to "legitimate authorities" in Aleppo, said Louay Meqdad.
He emphasized the killers were not connected to FSA, the main rebel group fighting Syrian forces.
Qataa, 14, was killed after reportedly telling a customer who wanted to buy coffee on credit, "Even if Mohamed came down from heaven, I would not give you this coffee on credit."
Extremists who overheard the comment took Qatta away in a car and returned him later badly beaten.
He was thrown onto the pavement and shot to death.
The death was a "heinous crime," the Local Co-Ordination Committee, a network of Syrian activists, said in a statement.
The LCC blamed an opposition group based in Istanbul for "failing to manage liberated areas and maintaining the security of its citizens."
