Families of foreign militants storm 'court', chant against al-Jolani

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
12 May 2024 23:45

Protesters from the families of foreign militants demanding the release of their detained sons from Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham's prisons stormed the building known as the "Military Court" in Idlib.

Demonstrators from the families of foreign militants inside the so-called "Military Court" in Idlib, northern Syria (Social media)

Demonstrators from the families of foreign militants, in demand of the release of their relatives detained in the prisons of the leader of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, stormed the building of the so-called "Military Court" in Idlib, northern Syria.

The families are demanding information about the fate of their relatives held in the prisons. Coordinating bodies of the militants on social media stated that "the protesting families are demanding the release of detainees of Jordanian, Uzbek, Egyptian, and Turkish nationalities."

Dozens of demonstrators gathered at the headquarters of the so-called "Military Court" to support the sit-in of the families of the foreign militants held inside the court building, calling on the organization to "reveal the fate of the detainees in its prisons."

During the protest in Idlib, demonstrators chanted against al-Jolani.

Protesters organize first open sit-in against al-Jolani in Idlib

Syrian protesters in Ariha City, south of Idlib, convened an open sit-in in the city center on the evening of May 6, in response to a series of arrests carried out by the so-called Security Service of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, led by Abu Mohammad al-Jolani.

The arrests were initiated after a patrol from the so-called "General Security Service" of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham apprehended several protest organizers in the city, charging them with security offenses. Subsequently, demonstrations erupted in Idlib, Jisr al-Shughour, and the villages of Jabal al-Zawiya, demanding al-Jolani's removal and the release of the detainees.

Reportedly, groups of protesters traveled from their towns to Ariha City to express solidarity with those arrested by al-Jolani's security apparatus.

Moreover, locals reported that protesters have decided to conduct an open sit-in in front of the "General Security Service" building in the city center until the detainees are released.

They erected a large tent for the sit-in and threatened to escalate it to encompass all areas in Idlib.

For months, Idlib has seen daily protests calling for the removal of Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the leader of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, the disbandment of his alleged security apparatus, and the liberation of thousands detained in his prisons.