Silverio Omari
Ahmed al-Sharaa, the de facto leader of Syria, has stated that the country is exhausted by war and no longer poses a threat to its neighbors or the West. In an interview with the BBC in Damascus, he called for the lifting of sanctions on Syria, emphasizing that they were imposed on the previous regime. “Now, after all that has happened, sanctions must be lifted because they were aimed at the old regime. Victims and oppressors should not be treated the same,” he explained.
Sharaa led the rapid offensive that overthrew Bashar al-Assad’s regime less than two weeks ago. He is the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the dominant group in the rebel alliance, and was once known by the alias Abu Mohammed al-Jolani. Sharaa also argued that HTS should be removed from the list of terrorist organizations, a designation currently held by the UN, US, EU, UK, and others, as it originated as a splinter group of al-Qaeda before breaking away in 2016.
Sharaa rejected the label of terrorism for HTS, asserting that the group did not target civilians or civilian areas, considering themselves victims of the Assad regime’s crimes. He also denied any intention of turning Syria into an Afghan-style society, noting the cultural differences between the two countries. He pointed out that while Afghanistan was a tribal society, Syria had a distinct mindset and emphasized his belief in women’s education.
“We’ve had universities in Idlib for more than eight years,” Sharaa said, referring to Syria’s northwestern province, which has been under rebel control since 2011. “I think the percentage of women in universities is more than 60%.”
When asked about the potential legalization of alcohol, Sharaa replied, “There are many things I just don’t have the right to talk about because they are legal issues.” He added that a “Syrian committee of legal experts” would draft a constitution, which any future leader would be required to follow.
Throughout the interview, Sharaa appeared relaxed and dressed in civilian attire, attempting to reassure those skeptical of his group’s departure from its extremist past. Many Syrians remain doubtful, and the actions of Syria’s new rulers in the coming months will determine the direction the country takes and the nature of their governance.
Dj Vnyash
