Syrian Islamist leader calls for state contract with religious groups ‘to guarantee social justice’

DAMASCUS — Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham Islamist group, says that a “social contract” between the state and all religions in the country is needed to ensure “social justice.”

“Syria must remain united, and there must be a social contract between the state and all religions to guarantee social justice,” says Jolani, who now goes by his real name Ahmed al-Sharaa, on Telegram.

He also says that international sanctions against Damascus must be lifted if refugees displaced by the war are to return.

During a meeting with a British delegation, Jolani spoke “of the importance of restoring relations” with London, and stressed “the importance of ending all sanctions imposed on Syria so that displaced Syrians… can return to their country,” according to remarks reported on Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s Telegram channel.