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International Skepticism Over Hayat Tahrir al-Sham's Promises to Protect Minorities in Syria
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HTS's efforts to improve its image indicate the organization's attempts to adapt to political changes without fundamental change in its extremist ideology
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham's pledges to respect minority rights in areas under its control have sparked a wave of international skepticism, amid warnings against considering these promises as attempts to beautify the image of the organization classified as terrorist.
Abu Mohammed al-Jolani's statements coincided with his group's expanded control over large areas in northern Syria, including Aleppo, Syria's second-largest city and economic capital.
Currently, about 4 million people are under the organization's rule in Idlib governorate and parts of Aleppo and Hama, most of them displaced persons, while the organization seeks to expand its influence in areas with ethnic and religious diversity.
Approximate statistics revealed that Sunni Arabs constitute about 70% of Syria's 25 million population, while the remaining percentage is distributed among Alawites (10%), Kurds, Christians, and Druze.
Jerome Drevon, an analyst at the International Crisis Group, believes the organization is trying to show openness to minorities in Idlib, citing allowing Christians to practice their rituals and returning some properties to their owners.
However, Heba Zayadin, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, warned that minorities' fears are based on the organization's documented record of violations, including systematic violence, forced displacement, and destruction of cultural and religious heritage.
Middle East affairs analyst Guido Steinberg affirmed that the presence of jihadist elements in the organization's ranks warns of a "period of terror rule," especially in demographically diverse areas like Aleppo.
Experts indicate that the organization's attempts to polish its image come in the context of its pursuit to establish strategic relations with regional countries, despite its continued classification as a terrorist organization.
Human Rights Watch emphasized the necessity for all parties to commit to international humanitarian law, warning against repeating previous violations that led to devastating and long-term damage to civilians.
Adam Coogle, Deputy Middle East Director at the rights organization, affirms that judging the organization's intentions will be through its actions, not its statements.
Zayadin concludes that "sectarian dynamics significantly shape the lived experiences of ethnic and religious groups that often fall into a cycle of fear, displacement, and oppression," warning of the continued suffering of minorities under the control of extremist organizations.
Levant-Agencies
