Syria's de facto leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, who now uses his real name, Ahmed al-Sharaa, urged world countries to lift sanctions on the war-torn country, according to a report.
Al-Jolani, who heads the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), told BBC that his country is not a threat to the West or its neighbours. He added that that sanctions on Syria were targeted at the Bashar al-Assad regime and not the new government.
HTS leader Al Jolani asks a Syrian lady to cover her hair before taking a picture with him. She obliged.pic.twitter.com/urGzfhT1ka
— Bushra Shaikh (@Bushra1Shaikh) December 13, 2024
HTS, which broke away from Al Qaeda in 2016, has been designated as a terrorist outfit by the US, the UK as well the European Union and the United Nations.
Al-Jolani said HTS has not targeted civilians. Rejecting claims that he wanted to make Syria another Afghanistan, the HTS chief said he believes in women education. He said the universities in Idlib, which has been under HTS control for eight years, has more than 60 per cent female students.
🇸🇾 #Syrian rebel leader Ahmed al-#Sharaa, better known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-#Jolani, called for the lifting of international sanctions in an exclusive interview Monday with a group of foreign journalists that included FRANCE 24’s @SimNasr.
— FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) December 17, 2024
Here's the details ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/da4cYuyqsE
However, he said he cannot speak on the permission for alcohol consumption, adding that a panel of legal experts will frame a constitution that has to be followed by the new leaders.
UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen told BBC that the new administration in Syria should stick to its promises and respect the rights of all religious and ethnic groups in the country.
Pedersen's statement comes amid concerns about Al-Jolani's extremist past given his history as a jihadist with Al Qaeda ties till 2016.
