The UK government is considering removing Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from its list of banned terrorist organizations following the group’s role in overthrowing Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria. This marks a shift in policy amid the fluid situation in Syria, with Cabinet Minister Pat McFadden noting that if the country stabilizes, a decision regarding HTS could be made swiftly.
HTS was added to the UK’s proscribed list in 2017, recognized as an alias of al-Qaeda. The ban made it a criminal offense to join or support the group. HTS has also faced sanctions from the United States and the United Nations due to its designation as a terror group.
However, recent developments, including HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani’s distancing from al-Qaeda in 2016 and his recent pledges to respect religious minorities, have prompted the UK to review its stance. McFadden confirmed that the government is closely monitoring the situation in Syria and will consider any changes in HTS’s status if the regime changes and stabilizes.
The UK government’s review is informed by the group’s statements about protecting minority rights and citizens, with much depending on whether these pledges are backed up by actions on the ground. The government has not communicated with HTS through intermediaries and adheres to a long-standing policy of not engaging with proscribed groups.
In addition to this potential shift in policy, the UK government has announced an additional £11 million in humanitarian aid to Syria, aimed at addressing the needs of the vulnerable, including the 370,000 people displaced by recent events.
Meanwhile, former MI6 head Sir John Sawers suggested that it would be “rather ridiculous” for the UK to be unable to engage with HTS due to the ban, while Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel called for a review of the security and defense implications of the situation.
In related news, McFadden confirmed that no request had been made for Asma al-Assad, the wife of the ousted Syrian leader, to come to the UK. The al-Assads are currently in Russia, having sought refuge there.
As Syria’s political landscape evolves, the UK faces difficult decisions regarding its stance on HTS and the broader regional security situation.