by Our Correspondent in Doha
Abu Mohammed al-Julani, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a prominent rebel group in Syria, has announced the establishment of a new morality police force. This controversial unit, part of the group’s Interior Ministry, will be led by clerics and mullahs and tasked with enforcing “public moral rules.” Al-Julani claimed that “punishments” would involve the use of physical discipline, described as “THE STICK,” but only “when necessary.”
This development has sparked widespread concern, particularly among Syria’s minority populations. Since the fall of the Assad regime, approximately 90,000 Syrians, primarily from minority communities such as Christians and Alawites, have fled to Lebanon. They cite fears of harsh governance resembling ISIS-era laws and the potential for renewed sectarian violence.
Further compounding the crisis, Syria’s Druze minority has reportedly sought annexation by Israel in a desperate bid for protection. This move highlights the escalating sense of insecurity among minority groups as the region faces increased instability under HTS rule.
Critics argue that the introduction of morality policing could exacerbate tensions and further isolate vulnerable populations, intensifying the humanitarian crisis in the region.
