Ahmed al-Sharaa, the de facto leader of Syria and head of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has declared that Syria is Not a threat to the world, emphasizing that the war-torn nation poses no danger to its neighbors or Western countries. In a rare interview with the BBC from Damascus, Sharaa addressed concerns about his group’s controversial past, called for the lifting of sanctions, and outlined his vision for a peaceful and progressive future for Syria.
Sharaa urged the international community to lift sanctions on Syria, arguing they unfairly punish the country’s population. He emphasized that the sanctions were originally imposed on Bashar al-Assad’s regime, which his forces overthrew in a lightning offensive just two weeks ago.
“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,” Sharaa said, highlighting the toll that years of war and economic isolation have taken on the Syrian people.
HTS, the group led by Sharaa, is classified as a terrorist organization by the UN, US, EU, and UK, among others. Sharaa called for this designation to be reconsidered, asserting that HTS is not a terrorist group and has broken ties with its extremist origins.
“We do not target civilians or civilian areas,” he said, portraying HTS as victims of Assad’s crimes rather than perpetrators of violence. HTS was originally a splinter group of al-Qaeda, a connection Sharaa claimed was severed in 2016.
Addressing concerns about HTS’s rule, Sharaa dismissed comparisons to Afghanistan under Taliban control, pointing to Syria’s unique cultural and societal makeup. “Afghanistan is a tribal society. Syria has different traditions and a different mindset,” he explained.
He expressed support for women’s education, citing statistics from Idlib, the rebel-held northwestern province. “We’ve had universities in Idlib for more than eight years. I think the percentage of women in universities is more than 60%,” Sharaa said, underscoring his commitment to modernizing Syria.
When asked about controversial topics like alcohol consumption, Sharaa refrained from taking a stance, saying such matters should be decided by a legal committee tasked with drafting Syria’s new constitution. “There will be a Syrian committee of legal experts to write a constitution. They will decide. And any ruler or president will have to follow the law,” he stated.
Sharaa emphasized that Syria’s new governance model would be rooted in the rule of law, distancing himself from the hardline governance associated with HTS’s past.
Despite Sharaa’s assurances, many Syrians remain doubtful about the group’s ability to lead a peaceful and inclusive future. His civilian appearance and relaxed demeanor during the interview seemed aimed at easing concerns, but skepticism lingers due to HTS’s history and past affiliations.
The next few months are expected to reveal how Syria’s new rulers intend to govern and whether they can genuinely move beyond their extremist past.
Ahmed al-Sharaa’s leadership marks a significant shift in Syria’s political landscape. While he has presented a vision of a stable, inclusive, and progressive Syria, the international community and Syrians themselves remain cautious. The lifting of sanctions, changes in governance, and HTS’s actions in the coming months will determine whether this new chapter leads to peace or renewed conflict.
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