Abu Mohammad al-Jolani: A Backgrounder

Former president Bashar al-Assad is perhaps best known for waging crimes against humanity on his population, including the use of chemical weapons, on multiple occasions since the Syrian civil war erupted back in 2011.

The lightning assault on Damascus, spearheaded by the rebel group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), was formerly an Al-Qaeda affiliate. Abu Mohammad al-Jolani is the leader of the U.S. designated terror group and is expected to wield power as a new governing body in Syria forms. Just a few days before the fall of the Assad regime, al-Jolani told CNN in an interview “When we talk about objectives, the goal of the revolution remains the overthrow of this [Assad] regime. It is our right to use all available means to achieve that goal.”

Jolani has attempted to transform when it comes to public perception of his previous Islamist roots. No longer wearing the traditional turban normally associated with Islamist leaders, Jolani sported khaki clothing in his most recent appearances.

What is at Stake for Minority Groups and Dissidents in Syria

Jolani and HTS severed ties with Al-Qaeda back in 2016 and have since tried to come off as a more moderate group. The militant leader summed up his transformation in the CNN interview, stating that “A person in their twenties will have a different personality than someone in their thirties or forties, and certainly someone in their fifties. This is human nature.”

While Jolani may preach that he and his organization are less extreme than their previous affiliates, human rights groups are still concerned with what an HTS in power could mean for minorities and political dissidents. Recently, the group reportedly carried out brutal crackdowns on protests and even abused and tortured dissidents. Human Rights Watch documented reports of this abuse back in 2018 when residents came under the control of HTS in Idlib, Hama, and Aleppo.

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