Syria’s De Facto Leader Ahmed al-Sharaa Tells BBC Country Is Not a Global Threat

Ahmed al-Sharaa, who holds de facto leadership in Syria, stated that the nation is war-weary and poses no danger to either its neighboring countries or Western nations. During an interview conducted by the BBC in Damascus, he advocated for the removal of sanctions imposed on Syria. He asserted, “Now, after all that has happened, sanctions must be lifted because they were targeted at the old regime. The victim and the oppressor should not be treated in the same way.” Less than two weeks prior, Sharaa spearheaded the swift military campaign that brought down Bashar al-Assad’s government. He serves as the head of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is the leading faction within the rebel coalition, and was formerly identified by his alias, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani. Sharaa contended that HTS ought to be removed from the list of terrorist organizations. The group is currently classified as such by numerous entities, including the UN, US, EU, and UK, due to its origins as an al-Qaeda splinter group, from which it separated in 2016. According to Sharaa, HTS does not constitute a terrorist organization. He stated that its members did not target non-combatants or civilian zones. Rather, they viewed themselves as having been victimized by the Assad regime’s atrocities. He refuted the notion that he intended to transform Syria into an Afghanistan-like state. Sharaa explained that the two nations possess distinct characteristics and traditions, noting Afghanistan’s tribal societal structure. In contrast, he described a different mentality prevailing in Syria. He affirmed his support for women’s education, remarking, “We’ve had universities in Idlib for more than eight years,” in reference to Syria’s north-western province, which has been under rebel control since 2011. He further added, “I think the percentage of women in universities is more than 60%.” When questioned about the permissibility of alcohol consumption, Sharaa responded, “There are many things I just don’t have the right to talk about because they are legal issues.” He further indicated that a “Syrian committee of legal experts to write a constitution” would be established. He stated, “They will decide. And any ruler or president will have to follow the law.” Throughout the interview, Sharaa appeared composed and was dressed in civilian attire, endeavoring to alleviate concerns among those who doubt his group has distanced itself from its extremist origins. However, a significant number of Syrians remain unconvinced. The conduct of Syria’s new leadership over the coming months will reveal their aspirations for the nation and their intended governance approach. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.