The Islam researcher Simon Wolfgang Fuchs sees the greatest conflict potential for the unity of the country in northern Syria after the fall of the Assad regime. “The Kurds have here taken the important Deir ez-Zor at the border with Iraq” Fuchs told the “Frankfurter Rundschau”.
“There are oil fields there, and that’s why HTS wants to push the Kurds back again.” This could put the new powers in conflict with the US. He sees further problem zones in the east of the country: there, the cells of the “Islamic State” are still dangerous, the United States have already militarily intervened, Fuchs said.
Looking at the new powers, Fuchs expressed a cautious optimism. “In their stronghold in Idlib, we have seen in recent years a rapprochement of Islamists under Abu Muhammad al-Dscholani towards minorities” the Islam researcher said. Christians reported that it was now possible again to build churches and exercise their religion freely there.
“Initially, the HTS had decreed that women in public should only be accompanied by male relatives. This was later revoked. In educational institutions and at the University of Idlib, there is still segregation by gender” Fuchs said. According to the new powers, there will be no dress code for women in Damascus after its capture.
“Furthermore, HTS has banned revenge attacks by its own followers and has approached the leaders of the Alawites” the expert added. “On the other hand, there is supposed to be a list of those responsible for torture and they will be held accountable. One will have to see how this is done.