Thread by @maherakraa

🧵(1/10)
A dramatic shift has gripped Syria after the fall of the Assad regime on 8 December, leaving many violent jihadists feeling frustrated and 🔴 unsettled. A fresh report by The Economist (14 January 2025) sheds light on the political, security and religious contradictions shaping this “New Syria.”

(2/10)
According to the magazine, the new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa (formerly known as Abu Muhammad al-Jolani), is trying to enforce a more tolerant approach.
• He reversed a decision to seize an old Ottoman palace by New Year’s Eve, despite a local jihadist commander branding the resident female artists’ activities “sinful.”
• He’s also allowed Christmas decorations, church crosses and bars with mixed-gender dancing—moves that have enraged hard-line Salafists.

(3/10)
The Economist highlights the stark contrast between Idlib’s previous strict rules and “New Syria” in Damascus:
• Celebrating Christmas, putting up festive lights, and mixed dancing are now permitted.
• In Idlib, such acts might have led to execution or expulsion.
This sudden swing has baffled jihadists used to harsh “morality codes” ⚖️.

(4/10)
Security-wise, al-Sharaa turned down reactivating Assad’s police, opting instead to rely on assorted rebel groups, including:
• 13,000–35,000 fighters from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
• Up to 50,000 Sunni militiamen linked to Turkey.
• 400–2,500 foreign fighters from the north.
Keeping them in line is a challenge, as many prefer lucrative smuggling revenue to uncertain government pay 💰.

(5/10)
Another factor: southern Sunni factions led by Ahmed al-Awdeh, who reached Damascus on 8 December with 15,000 troops.
• The Economist says the UAE partly bankrolls him, aiming to curb Turkish-aligned jihadists.
• Rivalries over territory and funding create tension between al-Sharaa’s bloc and these militias, each vying for influence 🤝.

(6/10)
Minority communities, especially Alawites, now face a worrisome climate:
• Formerly aligned with Assad, Alawites see returning Sunni families forcibly reclaiming homes in Homs.
• Preachers roam nearby villages, armed, demanding that “kuffar” convert.
• Tensions flare around Alawite neighbourhoods as “remnants of the old regime” are targeted.

(7/10)
When it comes to women’s rights, the magazine points out a jarring mix of strictness and token openness:
• Notices insist women wear the veil, and some offices impose separate entrances for men and women.
• Meanwhile, al-Sharaa appointed a female head of the central bank—seemingly to project modern governance 🌐.
Can this balancing act survive the pressure from hard-liners?

(8/10)
On the diplomatic front, The Economist reports that al-Sharaa is seeking international recognition to secure funds and ease sanctions.
• Yet tensions brew between Turkish-backed militias and UAE-funded groups—both see strategic advantage in “New Syria.”
• Al-Sharaa is left juggling competing sponsors while trying to restrain his own jihadist allies who want uncompromising Sharia rule 🤔.

(9/10)
Despite the turmoil, Damascus still clings to a semblance of openness:
• Bars remain operational, even though casinos have been attacked.
• An art exhibition—including nude works—is slated to reopen at the National Museum.
• The Economist cites Marwan Tayyar, an art-house director, who recalls the 14th-century Mongol conqueror Tamerlane eventually calmed in Damascus: “You can conquer Damascus, but you can’t defeat its spirit.” ✨

(10/10)
The magazine concludes that the “Idlib model” of rigid Salafi governance hardly suits a modern state. While many conservative Sunnis celebrate the end of Assad’s “secular” reign, the real test is whether tolerance endures.
Syria’s future hangs in the balance: will al-Sharaa’s pragmatic image prevail, or will hard-liners impose stricter control? The outcome remains uncertain—yet the hope for coexistence endures.
#Syria #Damascus #NewSyria #Jihadists #TheEconomist #Politics #Thread