Nournews: The theatrical actions of Tahrir al-Sham, aimed at presenting a rebuilt image by appointing a woman named " Aisha Al-Dabs " in charge of women’s affairs in the new cabinet, have entered the group into a new phase.
Ahmad al-Sharaa (Mohammad al-Julani), the leader of Tahrir al-Sham, whose name is on the terrorist list of the United Nations and many Western and West Asian countries, has appointed a woman in charge of women’s affairs to clean his past image as someone involved in crimes against women and the killings of many women and children.
This theatrical action has sparked a wave of reactions from regional and international media outlets, particularly those seeking to rebrand the image of Tahrir al-Sham. They consider it a sign of change in the group’s approach.
However, the history of the group shows that they have a long record of violations of women’s rights, and their recent action aligns with efforts to whitewash and rebrand the group’s reputation at the international level.
Dark history concerning human and women’s rights
Still on the terrorist list of the United Nations, Tahrir al-Sham has a dark history of violating human and women’s rights. In the past years, the group has been criticized for its harsh laws, discrimination against women, inhumane behavior toward its opponents, and suppressive policies.
Given these conditions, introducing a woman into its power structure, without fundamental changes in its policies and functions, cannot be a sign of real evolution in the group’s outlook regarding human rights. It is more a theatrical act aimed at attracting the attention of different countries and the United Nations for gaining their support.
Attempt to rebrand
This act is a conscious attempt to gain the support of public opinion and some foreign governments. By using media and propaganda, Tahrir al-Sham is trying to present itself as a milder group, ready to interact with the global community. However, their past and present actions remain contrary to human rights values, and no practical signs suggest that this group can interact with other political and religious factions currently present in Syria.
The group continues to arrest, kill, and sentence its opponents in Syria, but these actions are censored to ensure the whitewashing process proceeds effectively. Over the past few days, various protests have taken place in different Syrian cities. Protesters opposed illegal actions, arrests, sentencing of opponents to prison, looting of properties, and violations of opponents’ rights. These protests have been displayed on social media, but no mainstream media outlets covered them.
Future challenges
The practical actions of Tahrir al-Sham to improve human and women’s rights must be evaluated by independent resources to assess their seriousness in changing their approach.
Although appointing a woman may be seen as a positive act on the surface, without changes in oppressive policies and the continuation of human rights violations against ethnic groups, this action will remain merely a theatrical move.
NOURNEWS