The former Grand Mufti of Syria, Ahmad Hassoun, had the permission of the relevant authorities to travel prior to his abduction from the Damascus International Airport on Wednesday.

A source close to the former Mufti of Syria, Sheikh Ahmed Hassoun, confirmed to Al Mayadeen on Thursday that the detained Sheikh had previously signed a pledge not to travel, and his family later inquired with the interim authorities in the country about his travel and requested permission for him to receive medical treatment.

The statement from the source close to Sheikh Hassoun to Al Mayadeen came in response to a report by Syrian State TV, which claimed that the former Mufti was detained "after violating a pledge he had signed with General Security, requiring him to remain in his home until the completion of procedures to settle his status."

Al Mayadeen's sources reported that Sheikh Hassoun was arrested at Damascus International Airport while trying to leave for Jordan for surgery in Amman. After clearing immigration and reaching the duty-free area, General Security officers detained and took him to an unknown location. A photo of Sheikh Hassoun blindfolded later surfaced on social media.

The source added that despite obtaining official permission to leave Syria, Sheikh Hassoun was still arrested, with the source stating that he had been assured there were no travel restrictions and had relied on that approval before his departure.