Desperate to contain rebellion, al-Jolani releases HTS' second man
4 Min Read
Activists say that the leader of the HTS aims to exploit the prominent figure's popularity to re-establish influence and control over the division-struck terrorist group.
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Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, chief of the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham terrorist group, tours occupied northern Idlib, Syria, February 7, 2023. (AFP)
The Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) terrorist organization has released one of its prominent leaders, Abu Maria al-Qahtani, after 8 months of detention on charges of treason, however, the action did not resonate with protesters who took to the streets demanding the release of others and the overthrow of Abu Mohammad al-Joulani.
Demonstrators took to the streets in the center of Idlib and the countryside of northwestern Aleppo, demanding that the "General Security" apparatus be dissolved and that all detainees taken into custodee by the HTS apparatus be released.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported on mass protests in the towns of al-Atrab and Darat Izza to the west of the city of Aleppo, adding that these protests also demanded the overthrow of HTS terror group chief, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani.
The protests were called for following the Friday prayers, as action against al-Jolani takes momentum around HTS-controlled areas. HTS terrorists shot at a group of protesters in Hazano and have intensified their actions against demonstrators in the past few days.
Others headed toward al-Qahtani's residence in Sarmada, hours after his release.
His release came coinciding with popular outrage against the group's chief, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, across several areas of Syria's Idlib.
The judicial committee appointed by al-Jolani decided to release the second man in the HTS, Maysar al-Juburi, known as Abu Maria al-Qahtani, after "failing to prove the charges of treason and conspiracy with external parties against the organization."
According to the judicial committee's statement, all the testimonies of the detainees were mere fabrications.
His release came amid tensions and protests in al-Jolani's areas of influence and the strife within the organization.
Read more: Syrian army thwarts infiltration attempt by HTS militants
Al-Qahtani released to re-establish control
Figures opposed to al-Jolani said that this move was "an attempt by the HTS' leader to exploit al-Qahtani's position within the organization to re-establish control over the state of division and chaos within the military body," which is witnessing tensions between supporters of al-Jolani and his internal opponents.
They pointed out that al-Qahtani's release might be "in favor of the popular movement against the leader of the organization," in case he refused to return to work within the ranks of the HTS and joined the popular movement. Al-Qahtani could take these steps as "revenge" for being detained, despite all he had done for the organization since its establishment under the name of Jabhat al-Nusra (al-Nusra Front), as he was part of its Shura Council.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported on Thursday that the security apparatus of the terrorist group set up several checkpoints in Idlib, aiming to prevent protests against al-Jolani in the Syrian province.
Security checkpoints prevented cars from entering the town and detained multiple women who had traveled in buses, keeping them under arrest until the protest ended, while others were forced to return.
Read more: Turkish Intelligence summons 8 military leaders loyal to HTS for talks
Later, our correspondent said that the city of Jisr al-Shughour, Idlib's largest city, saw its first protest against the head of the HTS.
Al-Jolani completed the largest arrest operation in early February, targeting security, military, and political leaders within the HTS, accusing them of "planning a military coup against him in collaboration with foreign intelligence."
The operation led to the imprisonment of over 400 military, security, financial, and political leaders affiliated with HTS, including al-Qahtani.
Multiple calls circulated on social media platforms earlier this week urging all regions to protest to demand the overthrow of al-Jolani and his security arm.
