Attempting to polish its image in front of the international community | HTS turns a blind eye to “sharia violations”
As Hayyaat Tahri Al-Sham (HTS) has intensified its efforts to polish its image in front of the international community and act as if it is a “moderate” group enjoying a broad popular base in areas under its control in north-west Syria region, the group has adopted several new measures and changes regarding its ideology, attempting to get rid of aspects of “radicalism.”
These efforts have been reflected in the changed treatment by HTS to residents in areas under its control since the group captured large swathes in Hama, Idlib and Aleppo countryside in 2018. After HTS managed to expel several factions which had shared the control of that region with the group at that time, HTS adopted a new policy to rule the region. The most obvious aspect of this policy has been manifested in the cancellation of several laws labelled as “extremist and radical.”
Moreover, Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham has entrusted the “Salvation Government,” as a civil body, to implement its new project which aims at getting rid of aspects of “radicalism” and polish its image in front of the international community, so that the terrorist-labeled group can gain international recognition. The group started its project with a series of decisions through which it organised most of its “files” in that region and worked on changing “jihadist-featured” names. Meanwhile, the “Salvation Government” has cared about organising all affairs in HTS-held areas in an institutional framework, separating them, nominally, from HTS military affairs.
The “files” which the “Salvation Government” has undertaken included the following:
- The sectors of prisons, general security service and civil police which the “Ministry of Interior Affairs” administrates.
- The file of “confiscated properties,” where the “Salvation Government” established an institution which was known as “Spoils of War Committee,” before it later was renamed into the “housing institution.”
- The administration of crossings.
- The economic affairs.
Accordingly, HTS has considerably succeeded to implement its project on the ground, as many residents in areas under its control could confirm. However, residents are aware of the objectives which HTS is attempting to accomplish by organising the region’s affairs in an institutional framework. Some residents see that HTS could provide all the constituent elements of a real “autonomous state.”
Speaking to SOHR, an activist known by his initials as M. A. living in north Idlib countryside says, “everything now is organised and administrated by institutions and directorates affiliated to the ‘Salvation Government,’ unlike the earlier years of HTS control of the north-west Syria region. Through the current institutional organisation of the region which has become more akin to and ‘autonomous state,’ Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham seeks to make a good impression on the international community, attempting to persuade it that the remodeled group completely contravenes that extremist group which once had pledged allegiance to Al Qaeda and was known as ‘Jabhat Al-Nusra.’ In the past few years, HTS worked on wooing and impress the residents to enlarge its popular base through turning a blind eye to practices that previously considered as ‘violations to fundamentals.’ Specifically, its stance which had opposed the Turkish intervention in Syria, smoking hookahs, showing women’s clothes at shop windows, organising concerts, mingling between males and females in public places and many other practices.”
The activist points out that HTS’ new project was criticised by many of its extremist members and commanders, some of whom have been already split from the group because of the “wrongdoings” that HTS allowed to be practiced in areas under its control, as they described. According to the activist, these extremist members and commanders criticised HTS cooperation with Turkey and the group’s “mellifluous” speech to the US authorities. However, Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham has not paid attention to this criticism and kept carrying on with its systematic change of its policy to gain the international community’s trust and respect.
The activist remarks, “although there are individuals still opposing Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham in areas under its control, a large number of residents have started to feel comfortable because of HTS relaxing and easing off the previously-strict measures. However, the residents know that this change of policy and relaxing of measures are ‘artificial’ and the practices come under a term identified by HTS as a ‘sharia policy.’”
A part of changes made by HTS to improve its image in front of the international community is manifested in the frequent visits by “Abu Mohammad Al-Julani” to residential compounds and participation in opening service projects, the last of which was the opening of artesian wells for providing villages of Jabal Al-Sammaq, which is inhabited mostly by Druze citizens, with drinking water. Earlier, “Al-Julani” opened other projects, such as Aleppo-Bab Al-Hawa road, frequently met with dignitaries from several areas in Idlib countryside. During these meetings, “Al-Julani” attended in casual looks with a short beard, and he gave modern speeches, attempting to erase the former “radical” impression portrayed by the international society and supporters.
At orders by commanders, HTS members treat civilians gently when it comes to implementing “sharia” (the Islamic laws). This contravenes the relentless measures adopted by the group with the beginning of its formation. Accordingly, the group adopted new routine measures licensing several practices, which previously considered “wrongdoings,” and the “former Jabhat Al-Nusra” punished several civilians for practicing such acts.
One example, among many, is allowing civilians to perform concerts including music and songs, where organisers can obtain permissions for organising concerts in any place they choose in return for paying fees. Also, owners of coffee shops, restaurants and pools can get permissions to serve hookahs to clients, after paying taxes.
On the other hand, Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham has continued its military and security campaigns against jihadist organisations. The latest campaigns targeted “Jund Al-Sham” group, led by “Abu Muslim Al-Shishani,” the remaining members of Hurras Al-Din, Ansar Al-Sham and other groups. In addition, HTS security services stormed hideouts of members of ISIS cells in Idlib, arresting tens.
SOHR had reported that HTS security service arrested nine members of an anonymous jihadist group known as “Ansar Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Battalion” which had claimed responsibility of earlier attacks on Turkish military convoys and posts in Idlib. According to SOHR activists, these members were arrested in several areas across Idlib province: Idlib city, Al-Dana, Atma, Salqin, Harem in northern Idlib, near the Syria border with Iskenderun region, and areas in Jisr Al-Shughour countryside in western Idlib. The battalion is also accused of “attacking military headquarters of several factions and looting their contents, including weapons, ammunitions and materiel.
Also, on July 10, SOHR sources reported that HTS security services arrested at least 15 commanders and ten members of the jihadist group, at Turkish intelligence’s orders. The campaign was concentrated in Al-Dubayt, Al-Jame’a and Al-Sa’a neighbourhoods in Idlib city, the areas of Salqin, Al-Dana and Sarmada in northern Idlib.
All these measures and profound changes come as a part of HTS efforts to express a new “moderate” ideology through countering terrorism, caring about civilians’ affairs in areas under its control, showing no discrimination in treatment to all segments of society and not violating the rights of religious minorities, so that it can gain international recognition and preserve its place in any future settlements which may be reached in Syria.