Ahmad al-Shara's Emphasis on Supporting Minorities in Syria

Ahmad al-Shara, the leader of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, claimed during a meeting on Sunday with Walid Jumblatt, a leader of the Druze in Lebanon, that minorities will be protected in the future Syrian government. Al-Shara, also known by the alias Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, asserted that the new Syria will be free from sectarianism. Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, the former al-Qaeda branch in Syria, played a major role in the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government. Western governments have expressed concerns about the future of Druze, Kurdish, Christian, and Alawite minorities in Syria under Islamist rule, despite welcoming the fall of Assad's regime. Al-Shara, dressed in a suit and tie during the meeting, stated, 'We pride ourselves on our culture, our religion, and our Islam.' According to the leader of Tahrir al-Sham, being in an Islamic environment does not mean rejecting other sects, and 'on the contrary, we have a duty to protect them.' Al-Shara mentioned that a delegation would be sent to the Druze city of Sweida in southwestern Syria and that services would be provided to the Druze of Syria. Jumblatt also remarked that the fall of Assad should mark the beginning of new constructive relations between Lebanon and Syria. In an effort to alleviate concerns about Syria's future, Ahmad al-Shara has recently welcomed many foreign delegations and promised that the reconstruction of Syria will be a priority in his agenda. The U.S. has canceled a $10 million reward for information on Jolani. Al-Shara stated that the overthrow of Assad has set back Iran's regional project by 40 years. There have been revelations about Assad's regime's actions against children after torturing or killing their parents. U.S. diplomats in Damascus are meeting with representatives of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham.