Hayat Tahrir al-Sham chief Ahmad al-Sharaa. (Credit: AFP)
In an interview aired on BBC on Thursday, Ahmad al-Sharaa (formerly known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani) the leader of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), dismissed comparisons between Syria and Afghanistan, emphasizing the unique cultural and historical differences between the two nations. Speaking with BBC's Jeremy Bowen from the presidential palace in Damascus, Sharaa affirmed his commitment to preserving Syria's ethnic and religious diversity while addressing concerns about the future governance of the region.
"Syria is not Afghanistan," Sharaa stated in response to comments from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. "These are two different societies with distinct cultures and histories." He underscored the importance of maintaining harmony among the diverse groups in Syria, saying "I think the revolution can contain everybody," and positioning himself as a supporter of pluralism.
Wednesday night, Blinken called on HTS rebels to follow through on promises of inclusion, saying it can learn a lesson from the isolation of Afghanistan's Taliban. "The Taliban projected a more moderate face, or at least tried to, in taking over Afghanistan, and then its true colors came out. The result is it remains terribly isolated around the world," Blinken said at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.
When asked if the future of Syria includes education for women, Sharaa responded "Of course," a relatively un-traditional stance that is seen as an effort to address criticisms, both domestically and internationally, about the treatment of women in HTS-controlled areas. Sharaa pointed to universities in Idlib where he claimed 60 percent of students are women, however, the organization Syrians for Truth and Justice found that at least one program, the newly opened Faculty of Political Science and Media at the city's main university, does not accept female students.
On the contentious issue of alcohol consumption, Sharaa deferred the decision to a future constitution. "Matters like this should be decided by the committee that will draft Syria's constitution," he said, indicating a move toward a more consultative approach to governance.
Only 12 days after toppling the Assad family's 54-year-long grip on the country, Sharaa's statements come at a critical time as HTS faces increasing scrutiny over its governance in Idlib and its broader vision for Syria’s future. The coalition has established an interim government with a three-month expiry date, meant only to oversee the transition toward a new Syrian government.
