From Veil to Suit.. Continuous Transformation in "Tahrir al-Sham" Leader's Appearance

From Veil to Suit.. Continuous Transformation in "Tahrir al-Sham" Leader's Appearance
HTS leader's appearance change from veil to suit represents attempt to shed extremist Al-Qaeda-linked past
December 22, 2024, 8:28 pm

الجولاني \ تعبيرية \ متداولة

Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, leader of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, received Lebanese leader Walid Jumblatt on Sunday, wearing a black suit with tie, in a new attempt to polish his organization's image.

This change in Abu Mohammad al-Jolani's appearance reflects a political maneuver matching his tactical shifts over years, as Jolani emerged when establishing Al-Qaeda's Syrian branch under the name Jabhat al-Nusra in 2012, hiding behind military dress and veil, deliberately concealing his identity, matching his role as leader of an extremist terrorist group amid the Syrian crisis.

Jabhat al-Nusra's early emergence in 2012 was marked by Jolani confirming his allegiance to Al-Qaeda, declaring commitment to the extremist organization's approach. Jolani avoided showing his face in 2013 during his first TV interview, only showing his shoulder from behind wrapped in black scarf, confirming his identity linked to terrorist organizations.

After three years, Al-Qaeda's Syrian branch announced changing its name to "Jabhat Fatah al-Sham" in attempt to formally dissociate from the parent organization, where Jolani appeared on camera for first time in military uniform with thick beard and white turban.

Jolani quickly conducted a TV interview in civilian clothes, trying to justify his extremist ideas and rejecting his classification as terrorist despite his bloody history.

Jolani established the so-called "Syrian Salvation Government" in 2017 after his organization controlled Idlib, beginning to appear at public events abandoning extremist appearances, attempting to present himself as a "political leader."

Jolani's speeches in recent years showed pragmatic shift, speaking in 2021 about coexistence with Syrian components, ignoring his organization's history of targeting minorities. His statements became more adaptive with Assad regime's fall, appearing in Aleppo Castle in modern appearance days before entering Damascus.

After controlling Damascus, Jolani abandoned military uniform, receiving Jumblatt in black suit with green tie symbolizing new Syrian flag, seeking to polish his organization's image before international community.

Researcher Aaron Lund from Century International believes Jolani and his organization's transformations are notable, but they "remained somewhat hardline," adding to Reuters: "It's a PR campaign, but the fact they're making this kind of effort at all shows they're not as hardline as they used to be, the old school of Al-Qaeda or ISIS would never do this."

Syria expert Joshua Landis, head of Middle East Studies Center at University of Oklahoma, explained that "Jolani is smarter than Assad, he changed his tools and appearance, and established new alliances" with minorities, ignoring the danger of Al-Qaeda branch's continued control over wide areas in Syria.

Levant-Agencies

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