Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, in a July 1 statement, condemned the slaying of Fr. Francois Murad on June 23 at a Franciscan monastery near Gassanieh in norther Syria.

“Canada condemns in the strongest possible terms violent extremism in all its forms,” said Baird. "Acts of terror such as the senseless murder of these innocent victims must not go unpunished.”

“Canada will continue to push for pluralist democratic development in Syria that protects the rights of all Syrians, regardless of faith, to live in peace,” said Religious Freedom Ambassador Andrew Bennett.

“We encourage the Syrian authorities to do their utmost to find and prosecute those responsible for these cowardly acts and to stem the rising tide of sectarian violence."

The circumstances around Murad’s death remain murky, with some sources saying he was shot while there were reports he was beheaded. Some argue the identity of the man in videos of the beheading widely available on the Internet cannot be verified.

The Vatican has confirmed the priest’s June 23 death. He reportedly was not a Franciscan but had sought protection in the monastery when his own residence became unsafe.

"Islamists attacked the monastery, ransacking it and destroying everything," said a statement from the Custody of the Holy Land, a Franciscan Order responsible for Holy Land sites. "When Fr. Francois tried to resist, defending the nuns, rebels shot him."