Syrian Rebel Leader Addresses Photo Controversy Involving Woman

Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria’s rebel leader, has dismissed the recent online debate surrounding videos that depicted him gesturing to a young woman to cover her hair before they posed for a photograph together last week. This event drew criticism from both liberal and conservative commentators amidst considerable speculation regarding the nation’s future trajectory following the rebels’ ascent to power. Those with liberal perspectives interpreted the request from the head of the Sunni Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) as an indication that he might intend to implement an Islamic system in Syria, having led the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad. Conversely, hardline conservatives criticized him for agreeing to be photographed with the woman in the first place. Sharaa stated in an interview with the BBC’s Jeremy Bowen, “I did not force her. But it’s my personal freedom. I want photos taken for me the way that suits me.” Lea Kheirallah, the woman involved, also affirmed that she was not troubled by the request. She described his manner as “gentle and fatherly way” and expressed her belief that “the leader has the right to be presented in the way he sees fit.” Nevertheless, the incident highlighted some of the challenges any future Syrian leader might face in engaging with and unifying a country characterized by its religious diversity. Sunni Muslims constitute the majority of the population, with the remaining populace comprising Christians, Alawites, Druze, and Ismailis. Furthermore, a broad spectrum of opinions exists among the various political and armed factions that opposed Assad, with some advocating for a secular democracy and others desiring governance based on Islamic law. HTS, which was formerly affiliated with al-Qaeda, initially enforced strict rules regarding behavior and dress codes when it took control of the former rebel stronghold of Idlib province in 2017. However, these regulations were rescinded in recent years due to public criticism. The Quran, Islam’s sacred text, instructs Muslims—both men and women—to dress modestly. For men, modesty is commonly understood as covering the area from the navel to the knee, while for women, it generally involves covering everything except their face, hands, and feet when in the presence of men to whom they are not related or married. Lea Kheirallah had requested a photo with Sharaa—who was previously known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Jolani—during his tour of the Mezzeh area of Damascus on 10 December. Before consenting, Sharaa motioned for her to cover her hair, which she did by raising the hood of her jumper, and then stood beside him for the picture. Numerous video clips and images of the event circulated on social media, provoking widespread indignation among both general users and media commentators. Individuals holding liberal or non-conservative viewpoints perceived the event as a concerning preview of Syria’s potential future under HTS, fearing increasingly conservative policies such as a mandatory hijab, or headscarf, for all women. France 24’s Arabic channel discussed the occurrence, featuring a headline that questioned whether Syria was “heading towards Islamic rule.” Other reactions were more sharply critical. One Syrian journalist remarked, “We replaced one dictator with a reactionary dictator.” On social media, other commentators issued warnings about “ultra-extremists” gaining power, while some denounced the “forcing of a free woman” to adopt a conservative appearance. Islamist hardliners on Telegram criticized Sharaa for consenting to be filmed and photographed alongside a young woman in the first place. Some referred to Ms. Kheirallah as a “mutabarijah”—a derogatory term for women deemed immodestly dressed or wearing make-up. These hardline figures included clerics and influential commentators whose perspectives are frequently shared and read by conservative online communities focused on Syria, and are likely to reach HTS supporters and potentially officials. Most of them appear to reside in Syria, primarily in Idlib, the former HTS-dominated rebel stronghold, with some having previously served within HTS ranks. They contended that close interaction between unrelated men and women was religiously impermissible and accused Sharaa of pursuing “vain public attention” and exhibiting “indulgence” in matters that contradicted strict religious doctrines. A post on a Telegram channel named Min Idlib (From Idlib) asserted that the HTS leader was “too busy taking selfies with young ladies” to address demands for the release of prisoners from HTS jails in Idlib. Many of the conservative figures who voiced opposition to the photo have previously criticized Sharaa for both political and religious reasons, and this group includes clerics who have departed from HTS.