This Video Does Not Show Recent Syria Protests Against Al-Golani

Misbar investigated the claim and found it to be misleading. The video is old and does not depict recent protests in Syria against Ahmed Al-Sharaa (Abu Mohammad al-Jolani).

Protests Against Al-Jolani in Idlib in May 2024

The video, originally published by the Syrian website Enab Baladi, dates to May 17, 2024. It documents protests in rural Idlib, northern Syria, against al-Jolani and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). These demonstrations were part of a broader popular movement demanding the ouster of al-Jolani and the dissolution of the General Security Apparatus.

This anti-HTS movement persisted for months, escalating into confrontations with HTS security forces who attempted to block the protests from reaching city centers and forcibly dispersed the gatherings.

The Salvation Government (SG) stated that the use of force to disperse protests in certain situations was necessary to prevent chaos and block former factions, parties, and movements from hijacking the demonstrations. The government also announced a new package of reforms. However, opposition groups dismissed these reforms as superficial and inadequate to meet the demonstrators' demands. Protesters called for the removal of al-Jolani, the dissolution of the General Security Apparatus, the establishment of an elected Shura Council, and the release of prisoners of conscience.

Al-Sharaa Speaks on Syrian Revolution’s Victory After Al-Assad’s Ouster

The video resurfaced following a significant development: On November 27, 2024, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, along with other Syrian opposition factions, launched a major offensive from Idlib in northern Syria. This offensive resulted in the capture of Aleppo, Hama, and Homs, culminating in the opposition's entry into Damascus on the morning of Sunday, December 1, and the announcement of the Assad regime's fall following his escape from the country.

After the fall of the Assad regime, Al-Sharaa delivered a sermon at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, amid chants of "Allahu Akbar" from attendees. In his speech, al-Jolani stated: "Syria under Assad became the world's factory for Captagon." He added, "This victory is by Allah's grace and by the blood of martyrs, widows, and orphans. It is also the result of the suffering of those who endured imprisonment. By Allah's will, the Mujahideen have liberated them despite the tyrant's resistance."

Al-Jolani accused al-Assad of turning Syria into a playground for Iranian ambitions while spreading sectarianism and corruption.

Ahmed Al-Sharaa Vows To Punish Those Who Tortured Syrian Detainees

On Tuesday, Ahmed al-Sharaa issued a statement announcing the upcoming release of "a preliminary list of key individuals involved in torturing the Syrian people, to ensure their prosecution and accountability." He stated: "We will offer rewards for information leading to the identification of senior military and security officers involved in war crimes."

He emphasized, “We will not hesitate to hold criminals, murderers, and security and military officers accountable for their role in the torture of the Syrian people. We will pursue war criminals and seek their extradition from the countries they have fled to, ensuring they face justice.”

Al-Sharaa reiterated his commitment to tolerance for those whose hands are not stained with Syrian blood and granted amnesty to individuals compelled into mandatory service. He also affirmed, “The blood and rights of innocent victims and detainees will neither be wasted nor forgotten.”

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