The Short Version
- Rebels have taken the capital of Syria, and President bashar al-Assad has fled to russia.
- VG asked three individuals knowledgeable about Syria whether the rebels are good or bad.
- The question does not have a straightforward answer, but one expert points out that the rebels have allowed a civil society to emerge.
- Another expert hopes the rebels will build a democracy in Syria.
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What Happened
- Syrian rebel forces have entered the capital Damascus and declared victory over the regime that has ruled for over 50 years.
- President Bashar al-Assad and his family have fled to Moscow.
- The uprising against the Assad regime began in 2011 during the Arab Spring. Assad responded harshly to the rebels back then—and the conflict has been bloody ever as.
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Are the rebels now taking over power good or bad?
- Hilde Henriksen Waage (65) is a history professor at UiO and a senior researcher at PRIO.She believes there is no simple answer to the question:
<img alt="Image of Hilde Henriksen Wa
– If we take a few steps back, HTS was originally al-Qaeda’s local branch in syria. That is why they are also labeled as terrorists by the US and others. They have also been on the same side as al-Baghdadi, the leader of IS, Waage begins.
– But HTS has had a more local focus, and they want to make Syria an Islamist state. They have governed the rebel province of Idlib without any meaningful allowance for other opinions. But not likewise as IS ruled its areas—with executions and beheadings.
– Many Thoughts in Head Concurrently
– So if I ask you again if HTS are good or bad?
– I cannot answer that. But it is indeed important now to try to hold many thoughts in one’s mind at the same time. Because this is unclear, complicated, and difficult.
The Assad regime has engaged in mass executions, torture, and imprisonment of dissenters. Over half a million people have died in the civil war over the past 13 years.
Cities and towns remain in ruins.
- Gudrun Bertinussen (52) is the head of international affairs at Care Norway, having lived and worked in Syria for almost all of 2023. Previously, she was the head of the humanitarian section for Church Aid in the Middle East and deputy head of Church Aid’s work in Syria.
– But what we do know is that they have allowed a civil society to develop in Idlib as there were many Syrian organizations operating there. They allowed freedom of organization, which the Syrian regime under Assad did not.
– This often involves working with local groups and local organizations. A civil society based on cooperation emerged.This was not something that Syria had a strong tradition for. So at least that’s a positive thing, Bertinussen says.
Bertinussen is optimistic and continues to describe the rebels as leaning more towards being good rather than bad.
She points out that they have so far kept their word not to harm civilians.
– Just two days in, they had meetings with the universities, hospital management, schools, and health services.They also had further meetings with the bar associations and banks. People felt relieved and thought this would go well. Others in diffrent cities heard about this. So this is a hopeful sign that this could go well.
Jonas Yasen (32) is a Syrian refugee in Norway.On Saturday, he was a co-organizer of the commemoration of the uprising at Eidsvolls plass in front of the Storting.
He cheered together with hundreds of syrians.
– But are the rebels good or bad?
– We don’t know. I haven’t experienced them myself. So
His first impression still is that they have achieved a remarkable feat for the Syrian people by overthrowing the regime and driving Assad out of the country.
– But the story is more nuanced than that, Yasen says.
Must Give the Rebels a Chance
– Do you think the rebels are capable of building a government and a democracy in Syria?
– I think so. As they say they are going to build a democracy.I hope they can do it.Now we need to try to give them the prospect to do so. I just hope everything goes peacefully.
He shares that the stories of people who have been released from prison after being there for many years have deeply affected him. This also indicates that the rebels have good intentions and gives hope.
– First and foremost, I feel joy. But I am also afraid of what will happen in the future, Yasen says.
– I hope they now build a democracy, and that the Syrian people get to decide who should build the country. but we don’t know if it will be like that.
Previously Considered Terrorists
According to the national intelligence in the USA (DNI),HTS uses methods such as suicide attacks,guerrilla-style strategies like bombing,ambushes,and sniping.
The US State Department began to regard HTS as a terrorist organization in 2018. This label was also applied to the organization by the UN and EU.
Norway’s Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide (Ap) has gathered information suggesting that the rebels in HTS may be changing—tho it does not indicate that they are innocent like lambs.
– Those who know the group better than I do say there is no doubt that their historical origin is quite close to extreme Islamism, but also that they have undergone significant change – at least regarding what they have said, says Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide on Sunday.
Eide further states that it truly seems that HTS has tried to change its rhetoric and behavior recently, based on what they have done and said. He also does not exclude that the terrorist listing
of the group could be lifted.
What are the different perspectives on the morality of Syrian rebel groups?
The question of weather the syrian rebels are good or bad does not have a straightforward answer and is subject to varying interpretations based on different perspectives. Here’s a summary of insights from three individuals educated about the situation:
- Hilde Henriksen Waage: A history professor and senior researcher, she emphasizes the complexity of the issue.waage notes that while some rebel groups, like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), originated from al-Qaeda and maintain a strong local focus with aspirations for an Islamist state, they have governed more moderately in terms of violence compared to groups like ISIS. She concludes that it is essential to hold multiple perspectives in mind,recognizing the unclear and complicated nature of the conflict.
- Gudrun Bertinussen: As the head of international affairs at Care Norway and a humanitarian worker in syria, Bertinussen highlights the positive developments under rebel control, particularly in Idlib. She points out that the rebels have allowed civil society to emerge, fostering cooperation among local organizations and providing a platform for community engagement. Bertinussen expresses optimism about the rebels’ approach so far, noting their commitment to not harming civilians and their efforts to engage with various sectors of society shortly after declaring victory.
- Jonas Yasen: A syrian refugee and co-organizer of events commemorating the uprising, Yasen represents the voice of the Syrian community in exile, which frequently enough grapples with its sentiments about the conflict and the rebels.His outlook implies a sense of hope and solidarity among Syrians, but the text does not provide explicit commentary from him regarding the moral judgment of the rebels.
the assessment of the rebels is mixed—while some experts highlight possible positive changes in governance and civil society under their control, others underscore the historical legacy and complexities associated with these groups. The evolving nature of the situation further complicates simple categorizations of good or bad.