Syria’s islamist regime must fall: A secular alliance is the only path forward

The so-called government of Ahmed al-Shaara and his Islamist backers in Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is nothing more than a fanatical dictatorship that threatens not only Syria’s future but the stability of the entire region. 

It is an abomination masquerading as governance, a regime that has replaced one form of tyranny with another.

For years, Syria suffered under the brutal rule of Bashar al-Assad, a dictator who crushed dissent and plunged the country into civil war. But what has replaced his reign? A radical Islamist state, governed by jihadist extremists who have turned Syria into a safe haven for terrorists and fundamentalists.

This Islamist junta, led by HTC’s shadowy network of warlords and ideologues, has imposed a totalitarian rule where fear, repression, and religious fanaticism dictate every aspect of life. 

They claim to represent Syria, but they rule with the same brutality that they once denounced in Assad’s regime. Their goal is not democracy, nor peace, but an Islamic autocracy that suffocates freedom, persecutes minorities, and spreads instability beyond Syria’s borders.

HTS: A Threat to Syria and the World

Under HTS’s rule, Syria has not become a liberated nation—it has become a playground for jihadists. Sharia law is imposed with an iron fist, the rights of women and minorities have been annihilated, and any form of political dissent is crushed without mercy. 

This extremist regime is no better than ISIS or the Taliban, seeking to drag Syria backward into medieval oppression rather than forward into modern civilization.

The international community must recognize this reality and act decisively. HTS is not a legitimate government. It is a terrorist organization disguised as a ruling power. No civilized nation should engage with this regime, let alone consider recognizing it diplomatically.

Ahmed al-Shaara: A Puppet for Jihadists

The so-called interim president, Ahmed al-Shaara, is nothing but a puppet of HTS, a weak figurehead propped up to give a façade of legitimacy to what is, in reality, a regime run by jihadist warlords. 

His empty speeches about peace and unity mean nothing while his government oversees sectarian massacres, executions, and the systematic repression of anyone who does not submit to their radical ideology.

His rule is not one of progress or reconciliation, but of religious tyranny and violent purges. His government will never bring stability to Syria, because it is built on fanaticism and fear.

The Urgent Need for a Secular Alliance

Syria does not need another dictatorship, and it certainly does not need a radical Islamist state. The only hope for a stable and prosperous Syria lies in the hands of secular forces—political parties, civil society organizations, and independent leaders who believe in democracy, human rights, and national unity.

A new alliance of secular, democratic forces must rise to reclaim Syria from the clutches of extremism. HTC and its Islamist regime must be overthrown, and in its place, a government that respects all citizens—regardless of faith, ethnicity, or political beliefs—must be established.

This is not just Syria’s fight; it is a battle for the soul of the Middle East. If HTS remains in power, Syria will continue to be a breeding ground for extremism and violence, a threat not only to its own people but to the entire world.

The World Must Reject Syria’s Islamist Regime

The international community must take a stand. Countries that believe in freedom and democracy must refuse to recognize or legitimize Ahmed al-Shaara’s government. Instead, they should support secular, democratic forces within Syria that can rebuild the country without religious fundamentalism or authoritarian repression.

The Syrian people have suffered enough—from Assad’s brutality to HTS’s theocratic nightmare. They deserve a future free from tyranny, whether it comes in the form of a secular dictator or an Islamist warlord.

HTS must fall. Syria’s Islamist regime must end. The future belongs to democracy, not jihadist rule.