Protesters in Syria's Idlib demand overthrow of HTS leader al-Jolani
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Residents of the countryside of Idlib and Aleppo take to the streets against the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) terrorist group and its leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani.
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Demonstrators rally in the town of Idlib in Syria's northwestern Idlib province on March 1, 2024, to protest against Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), and call for the overthrow of the group's leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani. (Photo by OMAR HAJ KADOUR / AFP)
Residents of the countryside of Idlib and Aleppo on Wednesday renewed protests against Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) terrorist group, rejecting the decisions of its leader, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani.
Multiple calls on social media platforms urged people from various areas to join Friday protests, demanding the overthrow of al-Jolani and his security apparatus.
Activists reported that al-Jolani attempted to silence the protests with decisions unrelated to the demands raised by the demonstrators.
According to the activists, he made efforts to persuade foreign militant groups to stand in support of HTS and ignore the protests.
In early February, al-Jolani launched the largest wave of arrests targeting some HTS security, military, and economic leaders, whom he accused of planning a military coup in collaboration with foreign intelligence.
As part of the campaign, he placed over 400 military, security, financial, and economic leaders in prison.
HTS militants disperse anti-Jolani protest in west Aleppo with gunfire
The so-called Rescue Government of HTS had recently issued a general amnesty simultaneously with its militants dispersing a demonstration against al-Jolani in western Aleppo.
The amnesty decision, issued by al-Jolani's government, includes pardoning the entire duration of imprisonment and flogging for those who have received judicial sentences, excluding those convicted of crimes such as murder, robbery, and kidnapping.
Activists considered that the amnesty ignores hundreds of detainees in al-Jolani's prisons who have not received judicial sentences, especially those detained under various pretexts, including collaborating with the US-led coalition.
The amnesty has not gained acceptance among protesters demanding the ousting of al-Jolani and the dissolution of his security apparatus, as new demonstrations erupted on the eve of the Rescue Government announcing the general amnesty.
Activists have shared footage of HTS militants opening fire on protesters taking part in a demonstration in the city of Darat Izza, west of Aleppo, pursuing them in the streets, and hurling insults toward them, which prompted further demonstrations in some villages in the Idlib countryside, the largest being in the center of Idlib, rejecting the amnesty decision and affirming the calls to oust al-Jolani.
Pro-HTS media reported that al-Jolani stated, during one of the meetings, that more decisions would be issued in the next couple of days, including the formation of a committee comprising the Shura Council in the Body, the Rescue Government, tribal leaders, and displaced persons, to consider the demands of the protesters, ignoring slogans raised by the demonstrators calling for his ousting and the dissolution of his security apparatus.
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