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Syria's New Leadership Faces Challenges Balancing Islamist and Secular Demands

Ahmed al-Sharaa, former jihadist leader, seeks legitimacy and unity after toppling Assad’s regime, but tensions grow over governance and ideology.

  • Ahmed al-Sharaa, leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has declared a commitment to reconciliation and rebuilding Syria following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime.
  • HTS's transition from a jihadist group to a governing body is under scrutiny, with concerns from both hardline Islamists and secular Syrians about its future policies.
  • Tensions have emerged over religious restrictions, including debates about women's dress codes and education, as al-Sharaa emphasizes cultural sensitivity while avoiding rigid mandates.
  • HTS is seeking international recognition and the removal of its terrorist designation, arguing that its governance differs from extremist models like the Taliban’s in Afghanistan.
  • Rivalries with Kurdish and Turkish-backed forces, as well as internal dissent from hardline factions, pose significant risks to Syria’s fragile stability under HTS control.
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