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The Thinking Muslim
Understanding HTS and the New Syria with Bilal Abdul Kareem
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Syria is now free. But what does the future hold for a revolution that we believed had all but been decimated? The most recent spectacular offensive has given the rebel groups control over the country's major cities. There now is an appetite for change and unity. I have been struck by the jubilation felt by most Syrians as the tyrant fell. Many who escaped his brutality are returning. The optimism has to be maintained, and the positivity it expresses should not be replaced with the pessimism shown by some partial commentators who are wishing for Syria to fail.
But challenges remain. How do we navigate these? And what of the people who are now at the centre of the new government? I have the pleasure of having Bilal Abdul Kareem on the show to help us understand the complexities of the road ahead and analyse the current players.
Bilal Abdul Kareem is a video journalist who has been covering the conflict in Syria since 2012. He has produced reports for CNN, Channel 4, BBC, and Sky News and runs his own news channel, On The Ground News.
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Timestamps:
0:00 – Introduction
2:30 – HTS ideology
5:55 – Justice – Islamic call
8:41 – Jolani – positive?
11:50 – Bilal too pessimistic?
14:34 – New Syria
16:31 – Toleration of Journalists
17:49 – Capability to govern
20:11 – Israel
23:30 – How far is Israel in Syria
26:00 – Assad central to resisting Israel?
28:06 - Where Islam fits?
33:28 – New government and the West
35:54 – Syrian Prisons
39:38 – SDF
43:35 – Iran and Hezbollah
46:25 – Iran’s role in Syria
49:18 – Anti-Imperialist left
52:18 – Syrian Mindset
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