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Memri
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Memri
Rage In Syria: The Constitutional Declaration Approved By The President Is Yet Another Step On The Path To A New Dictatorial Rule
Introduction On March 13, 2025, Syria's new president and Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammad Al-Joulani, signed the Constitutional Declaration of the Syrian Arab Republic. The document serves as the country's constitution for the transitional phase of the government, which will continue for at least the next five years. The Constitutional Declaration was approved relatively quickly, about two weeks after the National Dialogue Conference was held, where hundreds of representatives from the various ethnic and other groups in Syria had come together to lay the groundwork for the transitional phase. However, prominent Syrian political forces were actually excluded from the conference. A look at the Constitutional Declaration shows that it is another step by HTS in establishing its dictatorial regime in the country, since it concentrates many powers as well as control of the three branches of government in the hands of the president – he will be responsible for appointing members of parliament, members of the government, judges in the High Constitutional Court, and members of the Syrian National Security council. Absent from the declaration are oversight apparatuses and checks and accountability requirements for the president, and it does not state that the people are the source of the government's rule. The president's approval of the declaration enraged many elements in Syria, particularly among the Kurds, who have an autonomous region in the country's northeast, and among the Druze in Suwayda province, who see it as a "dictatorial declaration" incompatible with the people's wishes and warned that they would not abide by it. Protests against the declaration were also held in both areas. Similar criticism appeared in articles published by many Syrian writers, both inside and outside the country, stating that the Constitutional Declaration disregarded the fact that the revolution had aimed for democracy and to restore the rule to the people, and that it was the beginning of the establishment of a new dictatorship that would take over from the previous dictatorship. Syrian President Al-Sharaa signs the Constitutional Declaration of the Syrian Arab Republic (Source: March 13, 2025) This report will present the main points of the Constitutional Declaration and the criticism it has sparked in Syria. The President Holds Many Powers And Controls The Executive, Legislative, And Judiciary Authorities The Constitutional Declaration's 53 clauses, drawn up by a committee of seven appointed by Al-Sharaa himself, place many powers in the hands of Syria's president and give him control of all three authorities. Thus, in the legislative authority, Al-Sharaa will be in charge of appointing all members of the Syrian parliament – one third of them directly, and the others by a supreme committee that he forms. He will also be given the right to propose bills. In the executive authority, Al-Sharaa will be the one to nominate and remove government ministers. Likewise, the declaration does not mention a prime minister; that role appears to have been eradicated. The drafting committee explained at the signing that the president is to be appointed by the executive authority, and that the president's limitation of the powers of the executive authority is aimed at allowing him to act quickly and to deal with any difficulty that might arise during the transitional phase in Syria. [1] With regard to the judiciary authority, the president will appoint the judges of the Supreme Constitutional Court that rules on the constitutionality of laws and is in charge of establishing a body to deal with transitional justice, [2] establishing a supreme electoral authority, and other bodies. Furthermore, the Constitutional Declaration states that the president is also commander-in-chief of the Syrian army and has the authority to declare a state of emergency for a period of up to three months with the agreement of the Syrian National Security Council, which the president heads and whose members he appoints. [3] In addition to all of the above, conspicuous in their absence from the declaration are apparatuses for accountability for the president if he oversteps or misuses his authority. Other parts of the Constitutional Declaration cast a dark shadow on the prospect of democracy for Syria. Syrian jurists have said that even if there are some positive clauses in it, others damage it. For example, despite the clause stating that citizens have equal rights and obligations before the law regardless of race, religion, sex, or origin, and provides for equality of opportunity at work, it also states that the Syrian president must be Muslim. Likewise, it appears that the clauses about protection of human rights, freedom of expression, freedom of the press, and others can be restricted by the president using another clause in the declaration that permits him to declare a state of emergency with the agreement of officials who were selected by him. [4] Pages from the Constitutional Declaration (Source: March 13, 2025) The Constitutional Declaration Is Another Step In The New Syrian Regime's Establishment Of Anti-Democratic Measures It should be noted that the Constitutional Declaration is an addition to previous measures taken by the HTS-led Syrian regime that has sparked apprehension in the country that the dictatorial Assad regime has been replaced by another, similar regime. Thus, on January 29, 2025, the Syrian government held a "Victory Conference" at which unilateral decisions were made about the transitional phase in the country, including the appointment of Al-Sharaa as president and his consent to assemble an interim legislative council for the transitional phase. The conference did not, however, include representatives of Syrian political and civil organizations, and during it a decision was made to disband them. [5] The conference was held as a military event to which pro-Al-Sharaa military factions were invited, with the exclusion of Kurdish military representatives from the northeast and Druze representatives from Al-Suwayda province. [6] Additionally, the National Dialogue Conference was held on February 25, 2025; it was presented as a meeting of hundreds of representatives of Syria's ethnic and other groups that aimed to lay the foundation for the transitional phase in the country. But in actuality, representatives of prominent forces were excluded from the conference, first and foremost from the Kurdish autonomous region, and the conference participants were determined by HTS-affiliated elements – reinforcing the impression that the organization was in control of the proceedings. [7] Likewise, even before the conference, Al-Sharaa had made it clear that its outcomes would be considered suggestions, that is, non-binding for the regime. [8] Indeed, the conference's concluding statement consisted of a series of general aims with no details of how they would be implemented – for example, strengthening freedom as a supreme value in society, establishing the principle of cooperative life among all Syrians, establishing a legislative council as soon as possible, and the like. [9] Thus, the conference was perceived as no more than a marketing tactic aimed at obtaining popular and international legitimacy for HTS's control of Syria during the transitional phase. [10] The line in the Constitutional Declaration stating that it was based on the Victory Conference and on the National Dialogue Conference only reinforced the accusations that the declaration does not truly represent the Syrian people and was aimed at establishing the new regime. Rage In Syria Over The Constitutional Declaration: It Does Not Represent All Of Syrian Society The Constitutional Declaration sparked a great deal of criticism among many Syrians, particularly from rivals of the HTS government: the Kurds, who continue to maintain their autonomous region in the northeast which has not been under Syrian government control since the Assad regime, and the Druze in the southern province of Suwayda, where HTS is not fully in control. On the day of its publication, March 13, the administration of the autonomous region said in a statement that the declaration does not reflect the diversity of the country, does not promote partnership among all elements of Syrian society, and expresses "a mentality of an individual [regime] that is a direct continuation of the previous situation in Syria [i.e. the Assad regime] against which the people rebelled." It added that the declaration "does not reflect the aspirations of the people" and that it "thwarts efforts to achieve true democracy in Syria..." [11] For its part, the Syrian Democratic Council, the political arm of the Syrian Democratic Forces that serve as the military organization of the Kurdish autonomous zone, announced its absolute opposition to the declaration, calling it "an attempt to recreate dictatorship in the guise of the transitional phase." [12] Likewise, in Suwayda province, Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri expressed opposition to the declaration "that includes a dictatorial declaration." He added, "We will not implement a single clause of any constitution or [constitutional] declaration that is incompatible with the will and rights of the people." [13] Another Druze spiritual leader in Suwayda, Sheikh Yousef Jerboa, said that the declaration "gives more powers to the president and the presidential or national council [apparently a reference to the National Security Council] established by and based on six or seven officials headed by President Al-Sharaa, and this limits decision[making] to a single uniform group." He also expressed his hope that the Constitutional Declaration would be changed. [14] In both regions, protests were held against the declaration. Left: Protests in Hasaka, northeast Syria: "The people want a change to the constitution" (Source: March 16, 2025); right: Protest in Suwayda: "Al-Joulani and Assad – two sides of the same coin" (Source: March 23, 2025) Attempts by members of the Constitutional Declaration drafting committee to justify its clauses were not particularly persuasive. Committee head Abd Al-Hamid Al-Awak said that a presidential regime was decided upon for the transitional period, and in such a regime the president has broad powers, but there was no expansion of these exceptional powers. [15] But these statements did not explain why no element in the Syrian government had the power to demand presidential accountability. Committee member Ahmad Karibi's statement that "it is the people who judge the president and the parliament" [16] has no grounding in the Constitutional Declaration, in which the role of the people is not mentioned. Syrian Writers: The Constitutional Declaration Establishes A New Dictatorship In Syria; The President Has Too Many Powers Criticism of the Constitutional Declaration was also expressed in articles by numerous Syrian writers who claimed that the declaration concentrates too many powers in the hands of the president, it excludes the people and the different political forces from participation in determining the destiny of the country, and constitutes the beginning of the establishment of a new dictatorship. Syrian Journalist: The Constitutional Declaration Excludes The People And Ignores Its Aspiration To Democracy In his March 16, 2025 article, Syrian journalist Ammar Dayoub maintained that the Constitutional Declaration concentrates great power in the hands of President Al-Sharaa and does not include the role of the Syrian people in determining the destiny of the country. Therefore, he foresees that the Syrian government will take control of all government authorities and that a new dictatorship is about to arise in Syria. He wrote: "Syria's interim president Ahmed Al-Sharaa has approved a Constitutional Declaration that does not include the word 'temporary' and was signed into force. Its preamble cites the [concluding] statement of [the] Victory [Conference] and the closing statement of the National Dialogue Conference, and speaks of reliance on previous constitutions, but fails to mention the popular revolution's goal of transitioning to democracy... The discourse on freedom and dignity has become tailored to the will of the new administration and the temporary [constitutional] declaration serves the interests of this administration and its president... "Many clauses in the [constitutional] declaration concentrate power in the hands of Ahmad Al-Sharaa: He is authorized to appoint one-third of the legislative council and to form the election committee that elects the rest of its members, and he is also authorized to appoint [government] ministers. The text makes no mention of the prime minister, and there are speculations that [Al-Sharaa] himself will head the government. He is [also] the one who appoints judges to the constitutional court. [Also] absent from the declaration's clauses is the word 'elections,' and any mention of the people's role in the referendum on the draft constitution at the end of the interim period. The length of this period – five years – is further proof of the danger [inherent in] the interim president's control over the state and all its institutions. They could have sufficed with two years, or three at most... "No clause in the declaration mentions the sovereignty of the people, in contrast to [Syria's] 1950 constitution, which stated that 'sovereignty is anchored in the rule of the people, by the people and for the people.' The popular revolution was meant to restore the people's role in determining the fate of the country, but after this role was absent from the Victory Conference and the National Dialogue, it is also absent from the [constitutional] declaration and from the temporary people's council that is to be established. The Syrian people now fear that figures it trusts, and prominent national figures, will be absent from the interim government that, according to President Ahmed Al-Sharaa's plan for the interim stage, is to be established... "The measures taken by the interim administration; the length of [the interim period], which has been set at five years; the fact that the people and [various] political forces have been excluded or suspended from political participation... [all] indicate that the new administration means to monopolize all the branches [of government] and deprive them of any independence. Therefore, this [constitutional] declaration is the first step in establishing a new dictatorship in the guise of a victory over the previous dictatorship..." [17] Syrian Lawyer: We Are Creating A Pharaoh – Not A President Of Syria Similarly, Syrian lawyer Ghazwan Koronsul wrote that the Constitutional Declaration is nothing more than a vehicle by which to subordinate Syria to an autocracy led by the president, and that this explains the absence of mechanisms to demand accountability in it. He wrote: "I will not deny that I had some slight hope that the Constitutional Declaration would actually reflect the hoped-for national consensus, so that we Syrians would all manage to unite the fragmented homeland and divided people, each sector of which feels superior to the other factions... [But] in practice, this slight hope I harbored has certainly faded away. This is because I am among those who believe that constitutions, temporary or permanent, are like mirrors in which every citizen must be able to see his reflection and his rights, and this sadly failed to happen with the [new] Constitutional Declaration... "Although there are some positive clauses in it, they do not make it a declaration that lays the foundations for a national partnership... but are only [a way to] subordinate the constitution to an autocracy, to the monopoly [of the ruling party] and to the principle that whoever liberated [Syria has the right] to decide. This is a negative message to the rest of the Syrians, which shatters the mirror in which all Syrians must be able to see themselves. "More to the point, it can be said that this constitutional declaration significantly concentrates power in the president's hands without setting up mechanisms for holding him to account or demanding accountability from him if he oversteps or abuses his power. It is important to understand that 'absolute power corrupts absolutely,' especially when accompanied by the absence of means and mechanisms for supervision and accountability. After all, the ruler or president is not God's shadow, endowed with authority by God. The people are the source of authority that grants [power] or revokes it, appoints [figures] or removes [them]. The strange thing is that this specific statement – that 'the people is the source of authority' – is absent from the text of the Constitutional Declaration... "The president, who appoints the parliament members either directly or in a manipulative indirect manner, denies the parliament the right to approve or reject the government makeup or [the appointment of] specific ministers. It also excludes the parliament and the Supreme Judicial Council from the appointment of the constitutional court judges, and claims exclusive authority to do so... It's as though we have created a Pharoah, not a president... "Let me conclude by saying that [even] if it will not be possible to amend the declaration – and I do not believe it is impossible – we will be able to solve [the problems] when we begin to draft the country's permanent constitution. Then we can make sure not to tailor the constitution to the ruler, any ruler, but to the Syrian people, of every stripe and persuasion, without discrimination and injustice, with full equality in citizenship and in rights." [18] * O. Peri is a Research Fellow at MEMRI. [1] March 13, 2025. [2] The term transitional justice encompasses the totality of legal and social measures that can be taken by states in political transition to redress crimes and injustice carried out by the previous regime or during a past conflict . [3] March 13, 2025. [4] Al-Quds Al-Araby (London), March 13, 2025. [5] January 29, 2025. [6] February 3, 2025. [7] February 25, 2025. [8] Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), February 10, 2025. [9] February 25, 2025. [10] Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed (London), February 28, 2025. [11] March 13, 2025. [12] March 14, 2025. [13] March 18, 2025. [14] March 24, 2025. [15] March 13, 2025; March 15, 2025. [16] March 14, 2025. [17] Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed (London), March 16, 2025. [18] March 17, 2025.
Memri
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Memri
Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM) Weekly: March 15-22, 2025
The following are some of this week's reports from the MEMRI Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM) Project, which translates and analyzes content from sources monitored around the clock, among them the most important jihadi websites and blogs. (To view these reports in full, you must be a paying member of the JTTM; for membership information, send an email to jttmsubs@ with "Membership" in the subject line.) Note to media and government: For a full copy of these reports, send an email with the title of the report in the subject line to media@ Please include your name, title, and organization in your email. EXCLUSIVE: Syria-Based Jihadi Cleric, Pro-Al-Qaeda Ideologues, Islamic State (ISIS) Supporters Condemn New Syrian Constitutional Declaration As Violation Of Shari'a, 'New Religion' On March 13, 2025, Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa – who had previously headed jihadi group Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) under the nom de guerre Abu Muhammad Al-Joulani – signed a constitutional declaration, valid for a five-year transitional period, after receiving it from a seven-member committee which he had tasked with drafting it on March 2. EXCLUSIVE: Gaza-Based Hamas Supporter Calls President Trump 'Stupid and Ignorant' Over The Detention Of Palestinian Columbia University Graduate And Student Protest Leader Mahmoud Khalil An influential Hamas supporter based in Gaza lambasted US President Trump on Telegram for his handling of the case of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian green card holder and graduate of Columbia University who headed the University's student protest movement over the war in Gaza. EXCLUSIVE: 'Shield Of The Coast Brigade' Threatens To Harm Captured Security Operatives, Escalate Battle Against Syrian Administration; Claims Prisoners Are With Its Leader Outside Syrian Coast On March 6, 2025, a wave of violence erupted in the coastal regions of Syria, the main center of the country's Alawite minority, which counts among its members former Presidents Hafez and Bashar Al-Assad, between forces of the new Syrian administration – linked to disbanded jihadi group Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) – and armed groups, with reports of atrocities on both sides. EXCLUSIVE: Two New Iraqi Shi'ite Groups Threaten To Burn Down The Syrian Embassy In Baghdad, Expel Syrians Residing In Iraq Two unknown Iraqi Shi'ite groups published brief statements on Telegram threatening to expel Syrian refugees who are residing in Iraq. Received By Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, Delegation From Qatar-Based Muslim Brotherhood-Affiliated International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) Pledges To Support Projects In Syria On March 12, 2025, the Presidency of the Syrian Arab Republic released a photoset showing President Ahmed Al-Sharaa – who had previously headed jihadi group Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) under the nom de guerre Abu Muhammad Al-Joulani – receiving a delegation from the Qatar-based International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, in Damascus. Syrian Foreign Ministry Issues Statement Condemning 'Attacks On Syrians In Iraq' Syria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement calling on the Iraqi Government to protect Syrian residents in the country from harm. Popular Front For The Liberation Of Palestine (PFLP) Issues Statement Condemning What It Calls A 'Repressive Campaign Against Pro-Palestinian Students And Activists On American Universities;' Calls On 'Progressive Forces, Human Rights Organizations And Student Unions In The United States To Take Urgent Action' The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) released a statement calling on progressive groups in the United States to "take urgent action" against what it called a "repressive campaign against pro-Palestinian students and activists on American universities." Designated Terrorist Groups Samidoun And Masar Badil Organization Condemn American Strikes Against Houthis, Call On Anti-Israel Protesters Everywhere To Escalate Activities Against 'Fascist Powers' On March 16, 2025, Samidoun: Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network – a designated terrorist organization, issued a statement in English, condemning the recent U.S. strikes that targeted multiple leaders of Iran-backed Yemen's Ansar Allah Movement (the Houthis). Houthi Ansar Allah Movement: We Carried Out 'Hypersonic' Missile Attack On Military Base In Israel And A Fourth Missile-Drone Attack Within 72 Hours On USS Harry S Truman; Houthi Leader: 'We Will Renew The Escalation To The Highest Level' On March 18 and 19, 2025, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi Ansar Allah movement (the Houthis) claimed responsibility for the launch of a "hypersonic ballistic missile" at a military base in southern Israel, and for a fourth missile-drone attack on the USS Harry S Truman aircraft carrier within 72 hours. Houthi Ansar Allah Movement Claims Missile-Drone Attack On U.S. Destroyer, USS Harry S. Truman Aircraft Carrier, In Third Targeting Of Latter In 48 Hours On March 18, 2025, the armed forces spokesman of Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi Ansar Allah movement (the Houthis), claimed the group's forces had "successfully targeted" the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in the northern Red Sea with two cruise missiles and two drones, marking the third Houthi attack on it within 48 hours. Houthi Ansar Allah Movement Claims Two Drone And Missile Attacks On USS 'Harry Truman;' Houthi Leader: If U.S. Attacks Continue We'll Move To 'Other Options For Escalation' On March 16 and 17, 2025, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi Ansar Allah movement (the Houthis) claimed responsibility for two drone and missile attacks on the American aircraft carrier the USS Harry S. Truman. Yemen's Ansar Allah Movement (Houthis) Escalate Confrontation With Israel, Renew Naval Blockade, Condemn Arab 'Inaction' Yemen's Iran-backed Ansar Allah Movement (Houthis) tightens its blockade on Israeli maritime routes, threatening military action if Gaza's siege continues. Houthi Ansar Allah Movement: The U.S. Attacks In Yemen Are A "War Crime" And "American Terror"; The Response Will Be "Professional And Painful" On March 15, 2025, four days after Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi Ansar Allah movement (the Houthis) announced the renewal of their naval blockade on Israel, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that its forces had launched a widescale operation against the Houthis in Yemen. Syrian Administration Accuses Lebanese Hizbullah Of Killing Three Soldiers At Syria-Lebanon Border As Hizbullah Disavows Responsibility; Iraqi Shi'ite Group Claims Attack, While Other Sources Claim Local Tribes Killed Dozens Of Soldiers Clashes recently broke out at the Syria-Lebanon border killing several soldiers from the new Syrian administration, linked to disbanded jihadi group Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS). Lebanese Hizbullah-Affiliated Media Outlet Reports Social Media Ban Amid War With Israel On March 12, 2025, a Lebanese Hizbullah-affiliated news website announced on its official Telegram channel that its social media accounts on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook had been banned and shut down during and after Hizbullah's 'Uli Al-Ba's [Formidable in Might] war, which was launched in support of Hamas's Toofan Al-Aqsa [Al-Aqsa Flood] October 7, 2023 attack, and ongoing military campaign against Israel. Iraqi Hizbullah Brigades Condemns Mistreatment Of Syrians In Iraq; Denounces Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa; Rejects Legitimacy Of His Government And Justifies Armed 'Resistance' Against It On March 13, 2025, on its Telegram channel, the Iran-backed Iraqi Hizbullah Brigades militia posted an official statement, titled: "The Emergency Circumstances of Al-Joulani's Gangs Cannot Erase the Brotherhood Ties Between Iraq and Syria." Iran-Backed Groups Lebanese Hizbullah And Iraqi Hizbullah Brigades Decry Israel's Resumption Of Military Action Against Hamas, Condemn Washington's 'Total' Support Of Israel On March 18, 2025, Iran-backed groups Lebanese Hizbullah and Iraqi Hizbullah Brigades released statements condemning the resumption of Israeli military action against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, while accusing Washington of fully empowering Israel to "massacre" Palestinians. Two Iran-Backed Militias Pledge Support For Yemen's Houthi Movement Amid Escalation With The United States: 'We Are At The Disposal Of The Houthi Leader To Target The American Enemy In Iraq And The Region' Two recently-formed Iran-backed militias pledged to support Yemen's Ansar Allah Houthi Movement amid escalation with the United States and Israel by targeting American forces in Iraq and elsewhere. New Iraqi Shi'ite Group 'Closely Connected To Iran' Threatens Attacks On U.S. Embassy, Other U.S. Targets In Iraq, If Attacked By Israel On March 17, 2025, following media reports about Israel's intention to attack targets in Iraq, a Telegram channel affiliated with the Iran-backed militias in Iraq, shared a statement from the previously unknown Shi'ite Iraqi group in which it related to recent alleged threats from Israel. New Iraqi Shi'ite Group Threatens To Drive Syrians Out Of Iraq; Members Filmed Beating Bakery Workers In Group's 'First Operation' In early March 2025, in Syria's coastal areas, a stronghold of Syria's former President Bashar Al-Assad and Shi'ite Alawite minority, a wave of violence erupted. Russian Ambassador To Iraq And Secretary General Of Iran-Backed Iraqi Militia Asa'ib Ahl Al-Haq (AAH) Discuss Recent Events In Syria, Economic Cooperation, Russia-Ukraine War On March 12, 2025, the press office of the Secretary General of the Iran-backed Iraqi militia Asa'ib Ahl Al-Haq (AAH) and a U.S.-designated terrorist, published a press release on Telegram about a same-day meeting between the Secretary General and the Russian Ambassador to Iraq. WARNING – GRAPHIC: Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) Documents Execution Of Three Nigerian Soldiers On March 17, 2025, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) released three photos documenting the execution of three Nigerian soldiers, captured by the group's operatives in Azare and Kamuya, in Nigeria's Yobe state. WARNING – GRAPHIC: Islamic State (ISIS) Weekly Newsletter Releases Exclusive Photos Documenting Operations In Niger, DRC, And Syria On March 13, 2025, the Islamic State (ISIS) released issue 486 of its weekly newsletter. Islamic State (ISIS) Weekly Editorial Claims The 'Illusions' Of Coexistence In Syria 'Failed At First Test'; Deems President Al-Sharaa A 'Puppet' Until Partition Plan In Region Is Finalized On March 13, 2025, the Islamic State (ISIS) released Issue 486 of its weekly newsletter which featured an editorial titled: "Minoritarianism and Sectarianism Blown Up." Islamic State (ISIS) Supporters Cast Doubt On Reports That Senior Leader Abu Khadijah Killed, Call Deaths Of Leaders 'Victory'; ISIS Critic Asserts Organization Faces Major Leadership Crisis, May Transfer Decision-Making Out Of Iraq And Syria On March 14 , 2025, the Iraqi Prime Minister announced that forces of the Iraqi National Intelligence Service (INIS), with the "support and coordination" of the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve and forces of the Global Coalition against ISIS – had killed 'Abdallah Makki Muslih Al-Rafi'i aka Abu Khadijah. In Video, Syrian Interior Ministry Unveils Islamic State (ISIS) Cell Involved In The Assassination Of Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) Official Abu Maria Al-Qahtani, Failed Bombings Against Christians, Foiled Attack On Sayyidah Zainab Shrine On March 18, 2025, the Syrian Interior Ministry released a nine-minute video titled, "In Security Custody: The Inevitable Fate." Islamic State (ISIS) Critic: The Killing Of High-profile ISIS Leader In Iraq Is The Result Of Major Security Breach Inside His Inner Circle On March 17, 2025, an anti-Islamic State (ISIS) channel on the Al-Qaeda-operated server, published a post commenting on the circumstance that led to the killing of Abdallah Makki Muslih Al-Rifai, alias 'Abu Khadijah,' a senior ISIS leader in Iraq. ISKP Magazine Lists Battles In Which Muhammad Fought During Ramadan: Jerusalem 'Is Once Again In The Control Of Jews' The latest issue of the Urdu-language magazine published by a media outlet linked to ISKP, which defines itself as a supporting entity for the Islamic State (ISIS), features an article listing major battles in which Muhammad, founder of Islam, and the Muslim commanders who came after him, fought during the fasting month of Ramadan. ISKP Magazine Criticizes Afghan Taliban For Seeking UN Membership: 'The Foundation Of This Tyrannical Organization Was Established To Fight Against Islam And Prevent Muslims From Establishing An Islamic State' A lengthy article in an English-language monthly magazine published by a media outlet linked to the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), which defines itself as a supporting entity for the Islamic State (ISIS), criticizes Afghan Taliban rulers for seeking membership of the United Nations and goes on to argue that the principles and values enshrined in the UN Charter contradict shari'a. ISKP Magazine Responds To Trump's Statements On Bagram Base, U.S. Weapons Left In Afghanistan: 'No [U.S.] Aid Has Been Stopped, No Weapons Will Be Seized, And Trump Will Not Take Any Action Against The [Afghan Taliban] Militia' The latest issue of the English-language monthly magazine published by a media outlet linked to the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), which defines itself as a supporting entity for the Islamic State (ISIS), features an article accusing U.S. President Donald Trump of continuing to fund the Afghan Taliban. Poster In English By Pro-Islamic State (ISIS) Media Outlets: Jihad Is Mandatory On March 16, 2025, a pro-Islamic State (ISIS) media foundation, in collaboration with English-language media, released a poster titled "Jihad Is the Path of Dignity." Pro-Islamic State (ISIS) Outlet Calls For Jihad In Uttar Pradesh, India; Poster Depicts Armed Fighter Standing Over Crowd Of Hindus Celebrating Holi A pro-Islamic State (ISIS) media outlet called for jihad in India after a Muslim man was reportedly killed in Uttar Pradesh for refusing to take part in a Hindu festival. Pro-Islamic State (ISIS) Outlet Releases Step-By-Step Manual To Equip Drones With Video System Using Custom-Made 3D-Printed Mount On March 11, 2025, a channel on the ISIS-operated server released the fifth issue of the series of manuals, "Modern Warfare." Pro-Islamic State (ISIS) Poster Urges Supporters To Target U.S. President, Western Leaders On March 13, 2025, a pro-Islamic State (ISIS) organization, published a poster on the ISIS-operated Rocket Chat server inciting attacks against "nonbeliever," non-Muslim leaders of the West. Pro-ISIS Female Writer Dubbs Jews 'Brothers Of Monkeys' And America As A 'Traitor of Jesus,' Accusing Them Of Duplicity For Ending Ceasefire In Gaza A pro-Islamic State (ISIS) media outlet published an article on Telegram authored by pro-ISIS female writer. Pro-Islamic State (ISIS) Media Outlet Solicits Cryptocurrency Donations With Poster Featuring Arabic, Turkish, English, And Russian-Language Text A pro-Islamic State (ISIS) media outlet released a poster soliciting online donations in cryptocurrency during the Islamic month of Ramadan. Al-Qaeda Affiliate Al-Shabab Claims Killing, Wounding Over 150 Soldiers, Capturing New Areas In Series Of Attacks In Southern Somalia On March 15, 2025, the media arm of Al-Qaeda's affiliate in Somalia, Harakat Al-Shabab Al-Mujahideen (Al-Shabab), released an Arabic translation of a Somali statement from Al-Shabab's military command reporting on same-day Al-Shabab attacks against Somali armed forces in the country's south. Al-Qaeda Affiliate Al-Shabab Claims 'Qualitative Operation' Targeting Somali President Mohamud's Motorcade At Gate Of Presidential Palace In Mogadishu On March 18, 2025, an official Arabic-language media outlet of Al-Qaeda's affiliate in Somalia, Harakat Al-Shabab Al-Mujahideen (Al-Shabab), issued a claim reporting that the group's fighters had targeted the motorcade of Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, pejoratively nicknamed Gurguurte ("Crawler"), in a "qualitative operation" at the gate of the presidential palace in Mogadishu, as he was heading to the international airport. Al-Qaeda Affiliate Al-Shabab Issues Statement Commending Fighters For Recent Series Of Attacks On Somali Forces And Turkey-Backed Militias On March 19, 2025, the media arm of Al-Qaeda's affiliate in Somalia, Harakat Al-Shabab Al-Mujahideen (Al-Shabab), issued a statement highlighting attacks claimed by the group over the past two days in Central Shebelle and Mogadishu. Al-Qaeda Affiliate Al-Shabab: We Repelled Integrated Attack By Somali Forces With U.S. Air Support On March 12, 2025, the media arm of the Al-Qaeda affiliate in Somalia, Harakat Al-Shabab Al-Mujahideen (Al-Shabab), announced that seven members of an integrated force comprised of the Somali Special Forces who are trained by the U.S., and the Somali Armed Forces, were killed, and another six were wounded when Al-Shabab fighters repelled an attack. Al-Qaeda Affiliate Group For The Support Of Islam And Muslims (GSIM) Claims Dozens Of Attacks Since March 1 In Burkina Faso, Mali, And Niger; Documents Operations In Photos Between March 4 and 12, 2025, the media arm of Al-Qaeda's affiliate in the African Sahel, Jama'at Nusrat Al-Islam Wal-Muslimeen (the Group for Support of Islam and Muslims – GSIM), released a flurry of statements claiming responsibility for several armed attacks against the Malian, Burkinabe, and Nigerien armed forces. WARNING – GRAPHIC: Group For The Support Of Islam And Muslims (GSIM) Kills Dozens Of Burkinabe Soldiers In Seven Attacks Targeting Military Sites Across Country From March 14 to 15, 2025, Al-Qaeda's affiliate in the Sahel, the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM), claimed responsibility for killing dozens of Burkinabe soldiers in seven attacks across the country. Al-Qaeda Affiliate Group For The Support Of Islam And Muslims (GSIM) Releases Photos Documenting Its Fighters Observing Ramadan On March 13, 2025, the media arm of Al-Qaeda's affiliate in the African Sahel, Jama'at Nusrat Al-Islam Wal-Muslimeen (the Group for Support of Islam and Muslims – GSIM), released a photoset documenting the group's fighters observing the fasting month of Ramadan. In Photos, Al-Qaeda Affiliate, The Group For The Support Of Islam And Muslims (GSIM), Documents Ramadan In Burkina Faso On March 14, 2025, the media arm of Al-Qaeda's affiliate in the African Sahel, Jama'at Nusrat Al-Islam Wal-Muslimeen (the Group for Support of Islam and Muslims – GSIM), released a set of six photos showcasing the group's operatives in Burkina Faso camps engaging in activities related to the holy month of Ramadan. Al-Qaeda In The Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) Releases Video Biography Of Slain Commander From Dhaka, Bangladesh Who Fought In Afghanistan Against U.S. Forces Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) released a video biography of a commander from Dhaka, Bangladesh. Al-Qaeda In Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) Condemns Attacks By U.S., Israel, And Houthis On 'Peaceful Muslims In Yemen,' Calls On Muslims To Unite Against All Three On March 19, 2025, the official media arm of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), issued a four-page statement in Arabic titled "A Statement Regarding The Killing Of Women And Children In Yemen In U.S. Airstrikes." Afghan Taliban Editorial Criticizes Donald Trump's Gaza Plan: 'Every Individual [In Afghanistan] Longs For The Opportunity... To Show The Zionist Invaders Their Path And Fate' In a Pashtu-language editorial, Afghan Taliban's state-owned daily editorial criticized Muslim countries for their indifference to U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal for Palestinians to be moved from Gaza into neighboring countries of Jordan and Egypt. Afghan Taliban Spokesman Rejects Trump's Claim Of Chinese Control Of Bagram Airbase, Says Weapons Left By U.S. Forces Are Spoils Of War In recent interviews, Afghan Taliban spokesman rejected U.S. President Donald Trump's claim that Bagram airbase in Afghanistan is under China's control and the American weapons left by the U.S. forces should be returned. Pro-Afghan Taliban Media Outlet: 'Muhammad Sharif[Ullah] Was Not The Mastermind'; 'Both The Trump Administration And Pakistan Have Strategic Motives For Inflating Muhammad Sharif's Alleged Involvement In The Kabul Airport Attack' On March 5, 2025, a pro-Afghan Taliban website published a report saying that both the Trump administration and Pakistan are exaggerating the importance of Muhammad Sharifullah aka Jafar, the Islamic State Khurasan Province (ISKP, or ISIS-K) militant arrested for the 2021 Kabul airport attack. Hizb-ut-Tahrir Afghanistan: 'For Three Years Now, The West Has Been Trying To Assimilate The Taliban Into This [International] Order And Prevent The Transfer Of Political Islam From The East To The West' In a Pashtu-language article dated February 23, 2025, Hizb ut-Tahrir Afghanistan praised the Afghan Taliban's decision to withdraw from the Rome Statute, which established the International Criminal Court (ICC), and called for a complete break from the Western-led international order. Hizb-ut-Tahrir Bangladesh Organizes 'March For Khilafat' Rally, Calls On Bangladeshi Army Officers To Revolt: 'You Are The Sons Of The Muslim Ummah Who Have The Military Power In Their Hands' On March 7, 2025, Hizb-ut-Tahrir Bangladesh, which seeks to cause an uprising in the armed forces of Muslim countries as a means to the establishment of a global Islamic caliphate, organized a mass rally billed as the "March for Khilafat [Caliphate]" in Dhaka.
Memri
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Memri
Syrian Women Fear For Their Status And Rights Under Rule Of Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham
The takeover of Syria by the Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) organization, headed by Ahmed Al-Sharaa (until recently known as Abu Muhammad Al-Joulani), has sparked many concerns regarding the status and role of women under the new regime. These fears stem from HTS' rigid and even abusive treatment of women in the past, when it was affiliated with the Al-Qaeda and ISIS terrorist organizations and later when it controlled the Idlib district in northwest Syria after severing its relations with those organizations.[1] With the organization's takeover of Syria and the establishment of its transitional government, senior officials in the new administration began sending reassuring messages regarding the status of women, stating that the new regime would grant women all their rights and not exclude them from any domain. It is not clear, however, that these declarations reflect a genuine change in the organization's views on the issue of women. They are more likely meant to appease the international community and the West in order to gain legitimacy for the new regime and achieve the lifting of sanctions and the delivery of aid that is urgently needed for Syria's reconstruction. Western officials who visited Syria and met with its new leadership expressed the West's expectations that the new regime will respect the rights of women and minorities, and in fact presented this as a condition for supporting it. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, for example, who visited Damascus along with her French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot, said after a January 3, 2025 meeting with Al-Sharaa, in which he refrained from shaking her hand, that she and her colleague had made it clear to the new Syrian government that the status of women is not just a matter of their rights, but is a measure of the degree of freedom in society, and that women, as well as all groups and sects, must be included in the country's transition process if Damascus wants European support.[2] Alongside the positive signals sent by the new Syrian regime regarding women's rights, several of its leaders have made statements and taken measures that raised concerns within Syria and beyond regarding its stance on the status of women. For example, in several instances women – including non-Muslim women – were required to cover their hair when meeting with Ahmed Al-Sharaa. In other cases Al-Sharaa and senior members of his government avoided shaking hands with women, including Western diplomats, as happened with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. There are also reports that in various areas of Syria women are being encouraged to conform to the Muslim dress code, and that HTS activists are acting to prevent men and women from mixing in public places. Moreover, the new administration has so far appointed only one woman to a government position: Aisha Al-Debs, who has been named 'head of the Women's Affairs Office.' It is noteworthy that, unlike the male members of the government, she has not been given the title of minister. Furthermore, Al-Debs, whose appointment is apparently meant to allay concerns regarding the status of women under the new regime, is actually known for her anti-liberal positions and rejection of gender equality.[3] Another administration official stated that women are unable to perform certain roles in society due to 'their biological and psychological characteristics.' A further worrying development is the appointment of Shadi Al-Waysi as Justice Minister in Syria's transitional government. In 2015 Al-Waysi, then a qadi in the Idlib province, participated in the execution of women on charges of adultery.[4] Against this backdrop, protests were recently held in various parts of Syria by women and men demanding to respect the rights of women and include them in the shaping of the new Syria. In addition, many voices on the media and social media criticized the new regime's positions on women and the conservative views of its officials. Syrian women activists stressed that they will not allow such reactionary views to restrict them demanded that women's rights be enshrined in the new constitution, so that 'Syria will be a safe place for women.' Protest in Damascus ( December 20, 2024) This report reviews HTS's contradictory handling of the issue of women and reactions from Syrian women who fear for their inclusion and rights under the new regime. The New Syrian Administration Promises To Uphold Women's Rights And Include Them In All Domains As stated, upon taking power, the heads of the new Syrian regime, headed by Ahmed Al-Sharaa, confirmed their commitment to upholding women's rights and appointed several women to public positions, apparently in order to allay concerns inside and outside the country regarding the status of women under the new administration. Some of these statements came from Ahmad Al-Sharaa himself, who on January 29, 2025 was named president for the translational period. In a December 19, 2024 interview with the BBC, he stressed that he believed in education for women and noted that more than 60 percent of students in universities in Idlib, his powerbase, were female.[5] Asa'ad Al-Shaibani, the Foreign Minister in Syria's transitional government, was more explicit, writing on his personal X account in December 29: 'Syrian women have fought for decades for a free homeland that will protect their honor and status. We will act to uphold women's causes and support all of their rights. We believe Syrian women should play an active role in society and are confident in their abilities and skills, for [today's women] are the direct successors of generations of giving and contributing [women].'[6] Ali Al-Rifa'i, press relations manager at the Syrian Communications Ministry, told the Al-Arabiya channel: 'In Idlib [a province that has been controlled by HTS for several years] women enjoy full rights. They are doctors, teachers and legal experts, and are present in every domain… In the new Syria,... women's contribution will not be confined to any single domain; all domains in the country [will be open to them].'[7] In addition to Aisha Al-Debs, who is head of the Women's Affairs Office in the Syrian government, several other women have been appointed to public positions: Maysaa Sabareen is Governor of Syria's Central Bank, and is the first woman to ever serve in this role,[8] and Diana Al-Asmar has been appointed Executive Director of the Damascus Children's University Hospital.[9] Despite Some Positive Indications, Statements And Measures By The New Regime Spark Concern For Women's Freedoms Alongside the positive messages conveyed by some members of the new regime regarding women's rights, statements and measures by other officials reflect a conservative position that restricts women's freedoms, sparking concern among many inside and outside the country. For example, when interviewing Al-Sharaa on December 6, two days before the fall of the Assad regime, CNN correspondent Jomana Karadsheh wore a head covering,[10] and it was later reported that Al-Sharaa had specified that women who met with him, especially Arab and Muslim ones, should cover their hair.[11] As stated, Al-Sharaa has also avoided shaking hands with women.[12] Later on, however, perhaps in response to the criticism sparked by these incidents, Al-Sharaa apparently dropped these requirements. Several Syrian women from the U.S. who met with him on January 27 who were not wearing head coverings, nor was Bahia Mardini, a London-based Syrian journalist and researcher who met with him on January 6.[13] At a foreign ministers' summit on the Syrian issue, held in Saudi Arabia on January 12, Syria's Foreign Minister Asa'ad Al-Shaibani did shake the hand of his German counterpart.[14] Young woman from Damascus was asked to cover her hair when meeting with Al-Sharaa ( December 19, 2024) Al-Sharaa meets with a delegation of Syrian women from the U.S., many of them not wearing a head covering ( January 27, 2025) Conversely, Obaida Arnaout, Syria's new government spokesman, showed no flexibility at all regarding the status of women. In a December 18, 2024 interview with the Lebanese Al-Jadid channel, he said that it was too early to discuss the inclusion of women in the government and parliament, for "this must be left to the judicial and constitutional experts that will discuss the character of the new Syrian state. Women are important and should be treated with respect," he added, "and therefore the roles must be suitable for them…" As for women serving as judges, he likewise said that "the relevant authorities must examine and review this and it is too early to discuss this detail." Furthermore, "there are biological, psychological and mental characteristics that must be taken into consideration in certain roles. It is a mistake to say that a woman should handle weapons, for example, or should be in a position that does not suit her abilities, her physique or her nature."[15] Arnaout's statements drew fire in Syria, especially from women, as well as abroad. Attempts by HTS officials to contain the damage only intensified the women's fears in some cases. For example, Ali Al-Rifa'i, the press relations manager in the Syrian Communications Ministry, said that Arnout's remarks had been misrepresented and that he had only meant that "the woman's honor does not allow Syria to place her in the front line of fighting as minister of defense."[16] Aisha Al-Debs, head of the Women's Affairs Office, appointed as part of HTS' attempts to make a show of including women in decision-making roles, said in a December 28 interview with Turkey's TRT channel that the new regime seeks to "create a model suitable to the situation and condition of the Syrian woman, with the Islamic shari'a forming the basis for any model." She added: "Why should we adopt the secular or civil model?" On the activity of women's organizations in the country, she said: "I will not make room for anyone who refuses to accept my way of thinking. We have suffered in the past from campaigns of foreign organizations that harmed our women and children." She added that these organizations increased the rate of divorce in Syria.[17] In a lecture she gave in 2023, she advocated "partnership" between men and women, rather than equality in the Western-liberal sense.[18] The new Syrian administration also appointed some additional senior officials whose views on women's issues are problematic. As stated, conspicuous among them is the new justice minister, Shadi Al-Waysi, who, in a 2015 video, was seen supervising the execution of a woman in Idlib on charges of adultery and reading out the verdict meted out by the shari'a court. Another problematic appointment is that of Alaa Barsilu, the new director of Syria's Broadcasting and Television Authority. In videos he posted on a pro-HTS Facebook account he administered, Barsilu expressed opposition to women working outside the home.[19] In addition, there have been reports from around Syria of intolerance towards women, sometimes on the part of HTS activists. For example, there were reports of religious fliers being distributed urging women, including non-Muslim ones, to wear the hijab or even the burka,[20] and of HTS activists attempting to prevent men and women mixing in an event celebrating the downfall of the Assad regime at Homs University and in a shop in Damascus.[21] An HTS-affiliated official in a Damascus bussing company reported on January 10 that men and women would soon be segregated in the city's public transportation system, following a successful model used in the past in the Idlib, Aleppo, Hama and Homs districts.[22] Flier instructing women how to wear a veil according to the laws of the Islamic shari'a ( January 23, 2025) Protests Across Syria: Women Must Not Be Excluded From Any Sphere In light of the concerns that women may face restrictions or be excluded from the political arena and from other spheres, Syrian women and men who advocate gender equality took to the streets to voice their opinion on the desirable character of the future state. One of the protests, held December 20 in Umayyad Square in Damascus and attended by hundreds of men and women, called for the establishment of a democratic state and for the inclusion of women in its construction. Among the slogans chanted was "religion for Allah and the homeland for all," and one of the demonstrators, Syrian actress Raghda Khateb, said: "Women are partners and nobody can exclude women, certainly not the Syrian women, who have suffered so much yet remain standing." She stated that the protest was being held to preempt the establishment of an extremist regime in Syria.[23] Several days later, on December 23, Syrian women held a demonstration near the Hejaz Railway Station in Damascus to champion women's rights and stress that the woman's voice in society is crucial.[24] Another demonstration took place on December 21 in the city of Shahba in the Druze-majority Suwayda governorate, which to date is not under the full control of the HTS. The protesters stressed that they will not compromise on the full integration of women in all domains of life and called to include them in decision-making circles.[25] The city of Qamishli in the Hasakah governorate, the seat of the autonomous Kurdish government in northeastern Syria, which is known for promoting women's status and is not under HTS, also saw a demonstration by thousands of women who exhorted HTS to respect women's rights and refrain from excluding them.[26] The protest in Umayyad Square in Damascus ( December 20, 2024) Protester holds up a sign saying "No to a free society in which women aren't free" ( December 20, 2024) Furthermore, on January 8, 2025, the Syrian Women's Political Movement, which was founded in 2017 and, according to its website, has 200 members, men and women from Syria and other countries, held its first press conference in Damascus, in which it stressed it would work to promote the role of women in building a future Syria with freedom and diversity, and called to advance gender equality and to include women in decision making.[27] However, the movement refrained from directly referring to HTS or to its positions on women's issues.[28] In addition, in response to fliers hung up in various parts of Syria instructing women on how to wear a veil in compliance with the Islamic shari'a, other fliers were put up instructing women on how to dress "freely."[29] Flier instructing women on how to dress "freely" Syrian Women Activists: We Will Not Surrender Our Rights Or Allow Outdated Ideas To Impede Our Struggle For Equality The demand of equality for Syrian women also found expression on social media, where women activists came out against the statements of HTS officials about women's rights, specifically the remarks of government spokesman Obeida Arnaout and of the head of Women's Affairs, Aisha Al-Debs. Among these activists was Suzan Khawatmi, a Syrian diplomat and member of the Syrian Women's Political Movement, who took to Facebook to respond to Obeida Arnaout's claim that women's biological and psychological nature prevents them from performing certain roles. She wrote: 'We, the girls and women of Syria, are activists, politicians, jurists, journalists, economists, academics, laborers and homemakers; we are rebels, prisoners and fighters – and above all we are Syrian citizens. The discourse of Obeida Arnaout and his gang is unacceptable. The Syrian woman, who has struggled and suffered along with millions of her fellow Syrian women, is not waiting for you, [Arnaout], to choose a place and a space for her that suits your mentality in building our homeland. There are numerous examples in the past and the present of women politicians, judges, fighters, doctors and working mothers. I wish you would read [about them].'[30] Suzan Khawatmi's post Alaa Al-Muhammad, a Syrian activist and member of Women Now for Development, an organization for the empowerment of women in Syria and in Lebanon, also responded to Arnaout on Facebook, writing: 'As women, we will not agree to surrender our rights or let [anyone] belittle our value and abilities. Our knowledge and achievements cannot be denied, and we will not allow outdated ideas to impede our struggle for justice and equality.'[31] A feminist activist whose X handle is "Caroline" criticized the Women's Affairs Office, headed by Aisha Al-Debs, saying: 'The office for women's rights is a new office [created] in order to obscure the fact that men dominate political life and the entire scene! Chosen [to lead it] is a minister who defends this male [dominance] and supports the rights of the men! Are we really demanding an office for women's rights, or is it obvious that both men and women should be present in all government ministries?'[32] "Syrian writer Lina Al-Tibi likewise slammed Al-Debs, writing: 'Does a transitional government need a head of women's affairs who comes out and declares that she won't make room for anyone who holds an opinion different from her own[?]!!! One who will only accept the model that exists in her own mind[?]!!... Who are you, [Al-Debs], and where are you taking us[?] Syrian women have no need for a guide to teach them about their rights and obligations; moreover, a great and tremendous number of us obviously believe that the rights and obligations of women are completely different from what Mrs. Aisha Al-Debs has in mind…'[33] Syrian Journalist: Women's Rights Must Be Enshrined In The Syrian Constitution Harsher criticism against HTS and its treatment of women was voiced by Syrian journalist Maisa Salih, who expressed concern about the rise of HTS commander Ahmed Al-Sharaa to the presidency, given his history which is rife with violations of women's rights. She wrote that, although Al-Sharaa is currently seen as the savior of Syria and there are attempts to burnish his image, the harsh treatment of women by the organizations he led must not be ignored or forgotten. She stressed that women's rights must be a significant part of the new Syrian constitution. She wrote: 'I felt deeply conflicted before I wrote this article. Part of me was flooded with the collective feelings of joy and liberation due to [our] salvation from the Assad family and its barbaric regime, and the historic opportunity that has emerged for Syrian men and women to erase [the memory of] that eternal tyrant. [But] another part of me was aware of the uncertain situation in which Syrians find themselves today. [Yet another] part of me was filled with sorrow and concern about the rule of Abu Muhammad Al-Joulani and what he represents, and about the speed with which a narrative has been constructed that completely contradicts the role he has played from the moment he first appeared in the Syrian conflict and to this day. This narrative attempts to conceal the numerous crimes committed by the [Al-Qaeda and ISIS] organizations, to which Abu Muhammad Al-Joulani pledged allegiance, or by the organizations he founded and whose ideologies he espoused and still espouses in his process of transforming into Ahmed Al-Sharaa. This is a narrative of pinkwashing[34] that assumes that we women will be tolerant and forgiving toward the factions and organizations that barbarically violated and eroded our dignity… "After he pledged allegiance to ISIS in late 2011, Al-Joulani chose to join the [Syrian] conflict… in order to transfer this [organization's] experience to this country. He thus contributed to the establishment of ISIS in Syria, an extremist organization whose violations have been documented for years, especially those that harm women… [And] when Al-Joulani, [aka] Ahmed Al-Sharaa, repented and decided to distance himself from 'the extremism of ISIS,' he did not join the acting authorities and factions [of the Syrian opposition], but chose to embark on a new adventure and established Jabhat Al-Nusra as a Syrian branch of the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization… Like ISIS, Jabhat Al-Nusra controlled women's lives, forced them [to wear] the hijab and the veil, restricted them and stifled their freedom… "The next [step in] the evolution of Abu Mohammad Al-Joulani Ahmed Al-Sharaa was to split off from Al-Qaeda and distance himself from the global [movement of] Salafist Islamic jihad. [He started] to present himself as a representative of the local Salafist jihad by changing the name [of his organization] – but not its activities – [and establishing] what is now known as HTS… and embarked on founding an Islamic mini-state [in Idlib]. He appointed a government, the so-called 'Salvation Government,' as a civil 'political' guise for the aspirations to form a caliphate and enforce Islamic law. The Salvation Government mandated the hijab and the veil for women, [including] schoolgirls and university students, controlled their personal freedoms and oppressed them, and determined the type of presence they could have in public life. "Today, as feminists and as Syrian women involved in this existential struggle, we have no choice but to defend our narrative and mobilize against the pinkwashing and the political launching of Abu Muhammad Al-Joulani Ahmed Al-Sharaa, which presents him as the savior of Syria who liberated it from the Assad family and thus [justifies] the normalization of relations with him. "Syria has a historic opportunity to recover and to rectify everything that happened in the cruel and difficult years of the past. Therefore, it must not turn the experience of desecrating the bodies of Syrian women and stripping them of their freedom, their dignity, and their rights [by Al-Sharaa's organizations] into an episode that can be glossed over, and into a bridge on which Abu Muhammad Al-Joulani can arrogantly stride as he goes through all his ideological permutations, his reexaminations of [the concept of] jihad and his evolving perception of the struggle for control in all the organizations he founded and led. "This issue [of women's rights] must be part of clear and significant articles of Syria's new constitution, so that Syria will be a safe place for women and for all the excluded and weak groups that lack the means or the space to negotiate their rights, a state that protects the dignity of all [its citizens], without exception.'[35] *O. Peri is a research fellow at MEMRI.
Memri
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Memri
Changes To School Curricula By Syrian Interim Government Spark Criticism For Encouraging Extremism
Following the overthrow of the Syrian regime of Bashar Al-Assad in a military campaign, Nazir Mohammad Al-Qadri, the Education Minister in the interim government formed by Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmad Al-Sharaa (aka Abu Muhammad Al-Joulani), declared that "the educational curricula will remain unchanged, although we will remove any reference to symbols of the oppressive [Assad] regime." [1] These remarks were apparently intended to allay the fears of many inside and outside Syria who are concerned about the possible Islamization of the country under the new regime – given that its head, Al-Sharaa, was until recently the leader of an organization that is designated by many countries as an Islamist terrorist group, [2] and also given that many principal figures in the new regime, including the Minister of Education, are known to hold extremist views. However, a document recently published by the Education Ministry detailing the changes made to the curricula and the textbooks in Syrian schools indicates that the changes are not confined to removing references to the previous regime, and are aimed at strengthening Syria's Islamic identity. National or secular terms were replaced with more religious ones, and content perceived as contrary to the principles of Islam was removed, such as photographs of statues or idols. Scientific material was also omitted, such as references to the theory of evolution, as well as references to pre-Islamic texts, pictures of pre-Islamic historical figures such as Hammurabi King of Babylon, references to prominent women, and texts by modern Arab poets. Conversely, the period of the Ottoman rule in Syria is presented in a favorable light and its contribution to life in Syria is underscored. These changes met with opposition and harsh criticism from many in Syria, and in some cases even sparked demonstrations. While most of the critics welcomed the removal of references to the former regime, they stressed that the other changes are far-reaching and are not within the scope of an interim government's authority. These changes, they said, harm the delicate fabric of Syrian society, contravene the values of equality among citizens and between men and women, and undermine the education of the younger generation. They warned against raising generations steeped in Islamic extremism, which would endanger Syria and the entire world. Some wondered why the government was investing such efforts in this issue, which is beyond the scope of its authority, instead of doing what is expected of it as an interim government, namely meeting the daily needs of the citizens. Education Minister Al-Qadri rejected the criticism, stating that the curricula had merely been "slightly corrected," and that the changes were not rash but based on recommendations from "committees of experts… from all the sects and groups" in Syria. "What is the problem with removing a few photographs from the curricula," he asked, "so long as the information itself remains?" As for changes related to Islam, he said that "some erroneous information was corrected… We presented the correct explanation of verses, as set out in the books of exegesis." He added that his ministry was "willing to listen to all the objections." [3] In an interview two months later with the Qatari daily Al-Arabi Al-Jadid, Al-Qadri again rejected the criticism and downplayed the significance of the changes to the curricula, saying: "There are no essential problems with the curricula, only with the teaching methods. Nor are there any plans to add Islamic studies." He noted, however, that "science classes will change and certain studies will be added in order to enrich them," without providing further details. [4] These clarifications are unlikely to allay the concerns in the country and abroad regarding the intentions and inclinations of the new regime, especially since, in addition to the changes to the curricula, the Education Ministry has appointed Islamic preachers to senior administrative positions. For instance, according to reports, Muhammad Suleiman Al-Kafri, an activist in the Islamist Ahrar Al-Sham organization who served as the head of its office of preaching and guidance and also as a judge at the Daraa shari'a court, has been appointed director of education in the Daraa governorate, [5] and cleric Walid Kaboula, who was a preacher at the Ministry of Preaching and Endowments of HTS' Syrian Salvation Government in Idlib, [6] has been appointed director of education in the Latakia governorate. [7] This report reviews the changes made to the Syrian school curricula by Ahmad Al-Sharaa's interim government, and the criticism against these changes. Education Minister Nazir Al-Qadri Has Previously Advanced Islamist Education And Gender Segregation In Schools Education Minister Nazir Muhammad Al-Qadri was born in Damascus in 1970. After graduating from the Department of Arabic Language at Damascus University, he worked for 18 years as an Arabic teacher in the Syrian capital, until his arrest in 2008 for political activism. After his release in 2018 he moved to Idlib, which was controlled by HTS, and joined its education ministry, first as a supervisor and later as a member of the education council and chairman of the ministry's administrative committee. In the last capacity he was responsible for formulating the curricula for the schools in the areas controlled by HTS. [8] On January 19, 2023 he was appointed Minister of Education in the Salvation Government, [9] and with the collapse of the Assad regime and the establishment of Al-Sharaa's interim government he was appointed as its Minister of Education. Nazir Mohammad Al-Qadri, Minister of Education in Syria's interim government (Image: According to several reports, some of them from HTS supporters, the Salvation Government's education ministry in Idlib advanced curricula that glorified jihad and promoted an Islamist agenda. For instance, in August 2023 the ministry, headed by Al-Qadri, instructed the private schools in Idlib to take several measures, including segregating boys and girls, removing "illegitimate" pictures from the school fences and enforcing an Islamic dress code for both pupils and women teachers. [10] In November 2023, about a month after the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, it was reported that an arithmetic test in an Idlib school had included the question: "The mujahideen in Gaza destroyed 32 enemy tanks. In each tank are six [Israeli] operatives. How many of the enemy did they kill?" [11] Arithmetic test in Idlib (Image: November 20, 2023) In 2022 it was reported that a sixth-grade English textbook in an HTS school included praise for Samir Al-Suwailim, aka Ibn Al-Khattab, a jihadi commander in Chechnya who fought against Russia in the 1990s. [12] The Interim Government's Education Ministry Makes Changes To The School Curricula In Syria Upon his appointment as Education Minister in the interim government, Al-Qadri announced that changes and corrections to the school curricula would be made across Syria already in the present schoolyear, most them involving the removal of references to the previous regime. He abolished "national education" classes, which were compulsory under the previous regime and which, he said, were "a means to teach the principles of the Ba'ath Party and the history of the Bashar Al-Assad family," replacing them with religious studies (Islam for the Muslim pupils and Christianity for the Christian ones). He stressed that the curricula on science and literature would remain unchanged, except for the removal of references to symbols of the previous regime. He also declared that both boys and girls have the right to earn an education, that schools would teach both Islam and Christianity and would not segregate the genders, and that the status quo would remain in place. [13] However, about two weeks later, on its Facebook page, the Ministry of Education listed the changes that had been made to the textbooks for Islam, Arabic, English, French, science, philosophy, sociology, geography and history. Some of the changes indeed have to do with removing references to the former regime, such as information about and photographs of the Assad family and the Ba'ath Party, and texts penned by its senior members. Thus, a text titled "The Literature of the Resistance," by former Syrian vice president Najah Al-Attar, was removed. However, there are also changes in the spheres of science, religion and history that reflect the Islamist outlook of the new regime, as well as its relations with Turkey. The following are the main changes listed by the Ministry of Education: [14] Women : In the Islamic Studies textbook, references to prominent women were removed – for instance Septimia Zenobia, a third-century queen of the Palmyrene Empire in Syria, and Khawla bint Al-Azwar, a seventh-century Arab Muslim warrior who allegedly fought in the ranks of the Prophet Muhammad's army – on the grounds that they are "imaginary figures." [15] In addition, phrases that exalt women were removed, such as "a venerated woman" or "admiration for the mother." Science : References to evolution were omitted from the textbooks or changed. For example, lessons on "the origin and development of life on earth" were removed, as well as phrases like "the development of the brain," and the phrase "gift of nature" was replaced by "gift of Allah." Philosophy and law : A chapter dealing with the Code of Hammurabi (a Babylonian legal text from the 18th century BC) was removed, as was a chapter on Chinese philosophy. Islam : In the Islamic Studies books, expressions were changed or redefined to fit the Islamic outlook. For example, the term sirat al-mustaqim, formerly defined as meaning "the good way," was redefined as meaning "the way of Islam", and the expression "defending the soil of the homeland" was changed to "[fighting] for the sake of Allah." From the English textbooks, pictures of sculptures were removed, on the grounds that making sculptures contravenes Islam, and the word "gods" was omitted, as well as the names of gods, on the grounds of contravening the Islamic principle of monotheism. The phrase "law and justice" was changed to "the laws of Allah," and "fraternity of mankind" was replaced with "brethren in faith." Attitude towards Jews and Christians : The explanation offered for the Quranic phrase "those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray" (Quran 1:7) was changed. The literal interpretation favored by the previous regime, namely that the phrase refers to people who have left the path of righteousness, was replaced with the traditional Islamic interpretation, that the verse refers to the Jews and the Christians. Attitude towards Turkey : The changes listed suggest that the new regime is making an effort to cultivate good relations with Turkey, which was one of the main patrons of HTS, and to foster a positive view of the Ottoman Empire, which ruled Syria until 1919. Two texts, titled "The Ottoman Oppression" and "The Oppressive Ottoman Rule" were removed. Modern Literature : The changes also include omitting texts by modern Arab poets whose outlook is at odds with that of HTS. One of the texts omitted, for example, is by Jamil Sidqi Al-Zahawi, a prominent Iraqi poet known for championing women's rights and for calling to adopt values such as modernism and rationalism. Poems on themes of love or desire were also omitted. The list of changes to the curricula, published by the Education Ministry Reactions In Syria: An Interim Government Must Not Make Changes That Harm The Social Fabric And Inculcate Extremism The announcement of the Education Ministry sparked extensive criticism among Syrians, focused on two aspects: the fact that an interim government is not authorized to change the curricula, and the nature of the changes. An Interim Government Is Not Authorized To Change The Curricula; This Is An Alarming Precedent The critics claimed that an interim government is meant to manage the country's daily affairs until a permanent government can be elected, and has no authority to make fundamental changes that have implications for the country's future. Adib Al-Shishakly, a member of the National Coalition of Opposition Forces, previously the primary coalition of Syrian opposition groups, wrote: "Feel free to manage the [country's] daily affairs, but perhaps you could leave the major and sovereign decisions for the Syrian people [to handle] after the National Assembly is convened and the constitution is ratified." [16] Syrian journalist Ziad Haidar wrote on his X account: "I have never heard of or read about an interim government, revolutionary or non-revolutionary, that tries to change the curricula of its country and nation. That has never happened. A new reading [of the curricula], yes, but not changing history. This is an alarming precedent." [17] Dr. Ahmad Jassim Al-Hussein, a lecturer and member of the council supervising Syria's textbooks and curricula, told the Qatari Al-Quds Al-Arabi daily: "Changing the curricula is a strategic decision that reflects the country's outlook and strategies… An interim government should not start new wars or controversies or [create] problems in society. It should run the country without antagonizing people. Changing the curricula is completely at odds with the role of this government. Making such changes requires experts…" [18] Rami Jarrah, a Syrian journalist who opposed the Assad regime, warned on his X account that such "unilateral changes" could deepen social divisions and called for them to be carried out in a framework that guarantees the participation of all sectors of Syrian society. [19] Journalist Mirella Abu Shanab criticized the government for focusing on such issues while neglecting more pressing matters. She told the Al-Arabi Al-Jadid daily: "If the government [had time to] carefully examine the curriculum and change so many points in it, then it [should] certainly have enough time to address the day-to-day matters and the services it is required to provide, such as electricity, water, price hikes and the like – issues for which no plans have yet been developed." [20] The Changes To The Curricula Are Part Of An Effort To Turn Syria Into A Religious State; This Detracts From Our Victory Over Tyranny As stated, criticism was also directed at the content of the changes introduced, which, the opponents said, reflect an extremist Islamist ideology, and belie Al-Sharaa's moderate statements, which were apparently aimed at calming Western concerns and garnering Western support. [21] Syrian lawyer Ghazwan Qaranafel, another oppositionist to the Assad regime, agreed that the curriculum requires amendments but likewise argued that they should only be made after the establishment of a permanent government. He added that the changes made by the interim government are part of an effort to lay the groundwork for a religious state and law. He wrote: "It is not the state's job to get people into Paradise in the afterlife; the state should suffice with creating a paradise for them in this world. Only Allah is responsible for their fate in the afterlife... Anyone who thinks that citizenship stands in contradiction to religion or to the right of individuals or groups to teach their religious laws and perform their religious rituals... is afflicted with an ignorant outlook… Statements and actions that do not consolidate the value of citizenship – [but rather] differentiate between people in terms of rights and duties, treat people as subjects rather than citizens and describe non-Muslims as going astray – undermine the Syrians' rights to be equal citizens in a state that respects their humanity and safeguards their rights. Any attempt to introduce curricula that lead to the establishment of a religious state in Syria will destroy its victory over tyranny and lead to perdition…" [22] Rami Jarrah made similar remarks on X, stating that "religious studies should be taught to students not to build faith, but to provide a historical understanding of religion from an objective standpoint. These classes should focus on the history and context of different belief systems, fostering knowledge and critical thinking." [23] Syrian journalist Ziad Haidar wrote on Facebook: "This is very alarming. What is the dark source of [these ideas]??? Now I don't know if the [moderate] statements made by Ahmad Al-Sharaa, commander of the [Military Operations] Department, mean anything…" [24] Haidar mocked some of the changes made to the curricula. Referring to the explanation that the phrase "those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray" in Quran 1:7 refers to the Jews and Christians, he wrote: "To my friends who have gone astray, my home and heart are open to you." [25] Alluding to the omission of the text on Queen Zenobia and the lesson on "the development of the brain," he posted an illustration of a woman fighting a monster, and wrote in Arabic and English: "Super hero Zenobia confronts the brain-development monster." [26] Ziad Haidar's post about Queen Zenobia The Amended Curricula Will Create Generations Of Extremists Who Will Threaten The Region And The World And Discourage International Aid The critics also warned that the amended curricula will inculcate extremism in Syrian youngsters, which will endanger not only Syria but the region and the world. Journalist and activist Shiyar Khaleal wrote on his Facebook account that "education based on extremist ideologies could cultivate individuals with views that threaten regional and international security." He also warned that "linking education in Syria to extremist agendas will undermine opportunities for international aid to help Syria rebuild its education sector." [27] Journalist Ziad Haidar expressed a similar fear, calling the curricular changes "educational executions" and adding: "Many countries around the world will rethink their attitude towards HTS and may also rethink the requests for political asylum [by Syrian refugees], especially since this is a threat to religious groups." [28] Protests Against The Curricular Changes In addition to the criticism, there were also calls for action. Playwright Haytham Al-Tofaily called on Syrian society to "resist" the curricular changes, "which can lead to internal strife and exclusion that the pupils will have to deal with in the future." [29] Journalist and activist Shiyar Khaleal urged the relevant Syrian organizations to act on several levels: pressuring international donors and organizations to withhold support for "extremist curricula"; strengthen alternative education frameworks in the refugee camps or online; mobilizing teachers and other citizens to oppose any change that will harm the future of the next generations, and monitoring the curricular changes to present them to international elements. [30] Teachers and citizens in some parts of Syria indeed held protests against the "distortion" of the curricula. [31] In a Al-Suwayda governorate demonstration, a protester holds up a sign saying: "Religion is for Allah's and knowledge is the for the homeland. Don't warp our children's brains; knowledge builds the future and extremism kills it" (Image: January 3, 2025) Protester holds a sign saying: "We came to say no to the decision to change the curricula and distort facts: (Image: January 3, 2025) Demonstration against the curricular changes in front of the education ministry building in Damascus (Image: Al-Arabi Al-Jadid, London, January 5, 2025) [1] December 20, 2024. [2] Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham started out as a jihadist group called Jabhat Al-Nusrah. Al-Sharaa, then an associate of ISIS founder Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, established it in 2012 after Al-Baghdadi sent him to Syria to create a branch of the Islamic State in that country. In 2013 Al-Joulani broke with Al-Baghdadi and swore allegiance to Al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri, and Jabhat Al-Nusrah became the official affiliate of Al-Qaeda in Syria. In 2016 Al-Sharaa severed his ties with Al-Qaeda as well, and his organization merged with several other Islamist groups in Syria and changed its name, first to Jabhat Fath Al-Sham and later, in 2017, to Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham. For more on the concerns about the new regime in Syria, see MEMRI reports: Inquiry & Analysis Series No. 1799: Syrian Opposition Elements Express Concerns About Exclusion From New Regime: Assad's Tyranny Must Not Be Replaced By Tyranny Headed By Al-Sharaa AKA Al-Joulani, December 23, 2024; Special Dispatch No. 11743, New Syrian Government's Head Of Women's Affairs Supports Hamas, Opposes Gender Equality, Believes U.S. Officials Are Criminals, December 24, 2024; JTTM reports, Justice Minister In Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS)-Linked New Syrian Government Documented Participating In 2015 Execution; Anti-HTS Channel Calls For His Prosecution, January 5, 2025; JTTM report, Appointment Of Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) Strongman Anas Khattab As Syria's New Intel Chief Sparks Controversy; Jihadi Opponents Accuse Him Of Collusion With Turkey To Eliminate Al - Qaeda Leaders, December 30, 2024. [3] January 5, 2025; January 2, 2025. [4] Al-Arabi Al-Jadid (Qatar), February 25, 2025. [5] January 6, 2025. [6] May 9, 2020. [7] January 5, 2025. [8] December 12, 2023. [10] August 7, 2023. [13] December 20, 2024. [14] Ministry of Education, January 1, 2025. [15] It should be mentioned that, while the historicity of Khawla bint Al-Azwar is indeed disputed, Septimia Zenobia's is not. [16] January 1, 2025. [17] January 1, 2025. [18] Al-Quds Al-Arabi (London), January 2, 2025. [19] January 1, 2025. [20] Al-Arabi Al-Jadid (London), January 5, 2025. [22] January 5, 2025. [23] January 1, 2025. [24] January 1, 2025. [25] January 1, 2025. [26] January 1, 2025. [27] January 1, 2025. [28] January 1, 2025. [29] Al-Arabi Al-Jadid (London), January 5, 2025. [30] January 1, 2025. [31] January 3, 2025.
Al Bawaba
06-02-2025
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Syria signs new agreement with French company to manage the Port of Latakia
Published February 6th, 2025 - 06:23 GMT ALBAWABA – Syria has signed an agreement with the French company CMA CGM to operate the Latakia port container terminal. Syria signs an agreement with CMA CGM The Syrian General Authority for Land and Sea Ports has announced the signing of an agreement with CMA CGM, the French shipping and logistics company. Under the terms of the agreement, CMA CGM will begin operating the container terminal at Latakia authority stated that the new agreement will introduce updated and modified terms and regulations. These changes may address modifications to revenue distribution and the length of the contract, according to sources. Notably, CMA CGM began managing the port in 2009. The contract has been renewed several times since then, most recently in 2024 under the rule of President Al Assad. The authority stated that the new agreement will introduce updated and modified terms and regulations. (Shutterstock) The new contract is now renewed by the new governing power in Syria, Islamist group Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham. After the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, the new authorities now in control are establishing new rules and agreements to guide the is worth noting that CMA CGM operates in 160 countries globally. Its activities include shipping, port operation, supply chain management, and warehousing. The European Union is currently considering the removal of sanctions on the country and its economy. This would allow ships to continue trading through the Port of Latakia. Also Read China warns Trump against destructive trade war © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (
