Syria is not a threat to the world, HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa tells BBC

Sharaa said HTS was not a terrorist group.

They did not target civilians or civilian areas, he said. In fact, they considered themselves victims of the crimes of the Assad regime. Victims, he stated, should not be treated the same as oppressors.

He denied that he wanted to turn Syria into a version of Afghanistan.

Sharaa said the countries were very different, with different traditions. Afghanistan was a tribal society. In Syria, he said, there was a different mentality. She said she believed in the education of women.

Sharaa appeared relaxed throughout the interview, dressed in civilian clothes, and tried to offer reassurance to all those who believe that his group has not broken with its extremist past.

Many Syrians do not believe him.

The actions of Syria’s new rulers in the coming months will indicate the kind of country they want Syria to be and the way they want to govern it.