Bashar al Assad’s cousin has mentioned Syria’s new leaders can’t be trusted to show away from their extremist previous and unite the nation.
Ribal al Assad, an exiled critic of his cousin, was scathing in his evaluation of Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS) and claimed it was already committing killings of retribution.
“And they committed as much atrocities in Syria as the regime.”
He in contrast it to damaged hopes that Afghanistan’s Taliban would reform itself, including: “You suppose individuals who dedicated hundred of hundreds of atrocities are going to say now we’re in energy they will change?
“You remember Hamas when they came into power after throwing all the PLO people from the roofs of buildings in Gaza. The same thing.”
HTS has mentioned it has moved on and can deal with all Syria’s minority teams pretty.
The HTS chief is a former member of Islamic State of Iraq and led al Qaeda’s affiliate group in Syria earlier than severing ties in 2016.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
1:02
Insurgent chief speaks to Sky Information
He stays a delegated terrorist by the US, however has spent years making an attempt to distance himself from his former ties to al Qaeda. He now claims to have renounced his previous and says he embraces pluralism and tolerance.
Nevertheless, Ribal al Assad claimed the group – who swept by way of Syria to lastly oust President Assad simply over per week in the past – is already finishing up killings.
He mentioned: “We don’t want to see in Syria what happened in Iran 45 years ago, where the Shah’s regime – who was a dictator – was replaced by the mullahs. And now everyone is suffering – not only in Iran, but internationally.”
Picture:
President Assad fled to Moscow as he brutal regime ended
President Assad’s cousin mentioned he left Syria aged 9.
He denied his personal father was concerned in perpetrating massacres and mentioned he fell out with Bashar throughout the one time he ever met him – when he returned to Syria within the Nineteen Nineties.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
1:43
Alawite minority worry retribution
He additionally painted an image of President Assad as energy hungry and “disturbed”, saying he was in a jubilant temper on the funeral of his brother – who died in a automotive crash and was resulting from turn into chief earlier than him.
“His brother had just passed away and when I was at the funeral people were carrying him,” mentioned Ribal al Assad.
“So I thought he was really abnormal… People were carrying him and he was waving his arms like I’m next in line. This guy is disturbed to do that – he has no compassion.”
Spreaker
This content material is supplied by Spreaker, which can be utilizing cookies and different applied sciences.
To point out you this content material, we want your permission to make use of cookies.
You need to use the buttons beneath to amend your preferences to allow Spreaker cookies or to permit these cookies simply as soon as.
You possibly can change your settings at any time by way of the Privateness Choices.
Sadly we now have been unable to confirm in case you have consented to Spreaker cookies.
To view this content material you should use the button beneath to permit Spreaker cookies for this session solely.
Allow Cookies
Enable Cookies As soon as
👉 Faucet to observe The World wherever you get your podcasts 👈
On Monday, President Assad issued his first feedback since fleeing to Russia.
The assertion mentioned he left Damascus for Russia on 8 December – “a day after the fall” of the town, including: “At no point during these events did I consider stepping down or seeking refuge.
“The one plan of action was to proceed combating in opposition to the terrorist onslaught.”
