[Abu Mohammad al-Jolani’s Road to Damascus
Abu Mohammad al-Jolani’s journey to Damascus has been long, from being a young al Qaeda fighter to a rebel commander espousing sectarian tolerance. He has had plenty of time to plan and fine-tune his narrative, and his message to those who put him in power, those who might bring him down, and others who can keep him in power.
In the Umayyad Mosque, one of the world’s most ancient mosques, Jolani delivered a message to all those who had taken him to power and propelled his Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) fighters at startling speed across Syria to oust President Bashir al-Assad. He emphasized the sacrifices of the martyrs, the widows, and the orphans, and praised God for the victory.
In a country where religious beliefs can define one’s class and limit one’s aspirations, Jolani sent a clear signal by breaking those old bounds. He said the new triumph marks a new chapter in the history of the region, free from Iranian ambitions and spreading sectarianism.
Jolani’s message was also tuned for regional powers he’ll need to keep onside, promising to clean up the country’s reputation as a narco-state and criminal hub. He said Syria is being purified, referring to the country’s regional reputation as the world’s leading source of Captagon, an amphetamine-type drug.
Jolani’s mosque speech was about arrival and survival. It’s his actions, though, that will secure the latter.
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