The Word Written on a White Flag: The Flag Waving in Syria That Is Raising Concerns After Similarities Between the Stories of Kabul and Damascus
Syria's new interim prime minister, Mohamed al-Bashir, poses with a controversial flag
Article descriptionAuthor, Amira Madhabi and Hafizullah MaroofAhadah, BBC NewsDecember,13,2024.Pros
1. Symbol of Dialogue: The white flag traditionally represents a willingness to negotiate and find peaceful solutions, offering hope for resolution in Syria’s conflict. 2. Global Attention: This symbolic act raises international awareness about Syria’s ongoing struggles, potentially encouraging global intervention or support. 3. Opportunity for Reset: If leveraged strategically, this could mark the beginning of rebuilding trust among warring factions or international stakeholders. 4. Lessons from Kabul: Observing Kabul's aftermath could prevent similar missteps in Syria, fostering proactive and effective global strategies. Cons:
1. Misinterpretation of Intent: The flag might be misread as a sign of surrender or weakness, emboldening opposition forces and prolonging conflict. 2. Risk of Parallels with Kabul: Drawing direct comparisons might oversimplify the unique complexities of Syria's situation, leading to misguided policies. 3. Geopolitical Uncertainty: If international powers fail to act cohesively, the region could face further destabilization. 4. Potential Loss of Sovereignty: External interference could erode Syria’s autonomy, making the situation even more precarious for its citizens.
Syria's new interim prime minister, Mohamed al-Bashir, chaired his first meeting in Damascus on December 10.
A photo released after the meeting showed two flags behind Mohamed al-Bashir. One was the Syrian "revolutionary flag" which consists of green, white and black stripes with three red stars in the middle, and the other was a white flag with the Islamic fundamentalist creed (Kalima Tayyiba) written in black.
The white flag seen at the official meeting, which is used by the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which recently took control of parts of Syria, bears a striking resemblance to the Taliban flag. It is the same flag that was flown by the Taliban, who retook Afghanistan in 2021.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other armed opposition groups took control of Syria after the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad’s government on December 8. The group advanced towards Damascus from its stronghold in Idlib province in northwestern Syria in late November.
During the advance on Damascus and later after taking control of Damascus, the group’s leader, Abu Muhammad al-Julani (now known as Ahmed al-Sharaa), has been trying to reassure Syrians that there will be a future unified government in Syria that represents all the different minority sects within the country and that this government will not oppress any opposition group.
He has also been trying to reassure Syrians that they do not need to fear an Islamic-style government or the imposition of an Islamic system.
However, the appearance of this white flag has sparked a new debate among Syrians about what message this white flag sends about Syria's political future.
This is the flag the Taliban raised after taking over Afghanistan. The 'anger' and 'fear' found on social media in Syria
BBC Arabic's special correspondent in Syria, Firas Kailani, said the incident (the official use of the white flag) had "shocked many people."
Kailani said it showed that the new government could follow the Taliban model and establish an Islamic state under Sharia law.
Some people expressed their "disappointment" at the move on social media.
Syrian political activist and journalist Rami Jarrah said that "the display of the Islamic flag behind interim Prime Minister Mohammed al-Bashir when he was addressing Syrians was an "insult."
He wrote on the X: "Why is the head of the interim government addressing Syrians with an Islamic flag?" They should represent all Syrians from every religious group, it is an insult to us all.
Other users have opposed the flying of “any flag other than the revolutionary flag (the official Syrian flag)” in government institutions.
Journalist Nadal al-Amari wrote on X that “we have learned a lot from the Baath Party and now we do not want to enter another era of chaos.”
But there are also many Syrians who see “nothing wrong” in flying the flag. They believe that this does not mean that the Syrian government will be modeled after the one adopted in Afghanistan.The “Taliban flag” and concerns
December 8, 2024: HTS leader Abu Muhammad al-Jilani addresses supporters inside the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus after the fall of the Assad regime.
The ruling Taliban in Afghanistan follow an extremist Sunni and jihadist ideology. The group has been using a white flag with the Kalima on it regularly and officially since 1996.
The rebel group HTS in Syria has also been using the same flag for some time and it can be seen flying on government buildings in Idlib, which HTS controls.
Although the flags of HTS and the Taliban are similar, a senior Taliban government official told the BBC that both groups adopted the flag independently and that neither copied the other.
The Taliban government in Afghanistan is celebrating the political and military successes of the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Syria, and Taliban officials have expressed hope that an “Islamic government” will now be established in Syria.
Taliban supporters and some of their allies in Afghanistan held gatherings in several provinces to celebrate the removal of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power, where sweets were distributed to attendees.
November 25, 2024: A large Taliban flag is flying in Kabul
The ‘ideological connection’ between the Taliban and HTS is perhaps the reason why the Taliban in Afghanistan are seen supporting the rebel group in Syria.
A senior Taliban official working in the Afghan presidential office wrote on his X account that ‘the story of Kabul and Damascus is the same, the governments in both fell on Sunday, the government in both countries was seized in 11 days and the ruling leaders in both countries fled the country.’
The same flag was also visible behind Al-Jolani during an interview with CNN last week. During the interview, he said that people should not be afraid of the Islamic system. He had assured that all the diverse sects of Syrian society would be represented in the next government.
Ayman al-Tamimi, an expert on Islamist groups fighting in Syria, told the BBC that the use of the flag shows that HTS wants to represent an "Islamic system" in Syria.
He added that "the flag is consistent with the long-standing position of (HTS), which presents itself as representing the Sunnis living in Syria."
However, al-Tamimi explains that "it will be very difficult for HTS to implement a Taliban-like governance model because (Syrian) society at large will not accept restrictions such as depriving girls of higher education or establishing an authoritarian government, restrictions that hinder popular elections."Related Topics
#Syria #Middle_East
Pros
1. Symbol of Dialogue: The white flag traditionally represents a willingness to negotiate and find peaceful solutions, offering hope for resolution in Syria’s conflict.
2. Global Attention: This symbolic act raises international awareness about Syria’s ongoing struggles, potentially encouraging global intervention or support.
3. Opportunity for Reset: If leveraged strategically, this could mark the beginning of rebuilding trust among warring factions or international stakeholders.
4. Lessons from Kabul: Observing Kabul's aftermath could prevent similar missteps in Syria, fostering proactive and effective global strategies.
Cons:
1. Misinterpretation of Intent: The flag might be misread as a sign of surrender or weakness, emboldening opposition forces and prolonging conflict.
2. Risk of Parallels with Kabul: Drawing direct comparisons might oversimplify the unique complexities of Syria's situation, leading to misguided policies.
3. Geopolitical Uncertainty: If international powers fail to act cohesively, the region could face further destabilization.
4. Potential Loss of Sovereignty: External interference could erode Syria’s autonomy, making the situation even more precarious for its citizens.
Syria's new interim prime minister, Mohamed al-Bashir, chaired his first meeting in Damascus on December 10.
A photo released after the meeting showed two flags behind Mohamed al-Bashir. One was the Syrian "revolutionary flag" which consists of green, white and black stripes with three red stars in the middle, and the other was a white flag with the Islamic fundamentalist creed (Kalima Tayyiba) written in black.
The white flag seen at the official meeting, which is used by the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which recently took control of parts of Syria, bears a striking resemblance to the Taliban flag. It is the same flag that was flown by the Taliban, who retook Afghanistan in 2021.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other armed opposition groups took control of Syria after the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad’s government on December 8. The group advanced towards Damascus from its stronghold in Idlib province in northwestern Syria in late November.
During the advance on Damascus and later after taking control of Damascus, the group’s leader, Abu Muhammad al-Julani (now known as Ahmed al-Sharaa), has been trying to reassure Syrians that there will be a future unified government in Syria that represents all the different minority sects within the country and that this government will not oppress any opposition group.
He has also been trying to reassure Syrians that they do not need to fear an Islamic-style government or the imposition of an Islamic system.
However, the appearance of this white flag has sparked a new debate among Syrians about what message this white flag sends about Syria's political future.
This is the flag the Taliban raised after taking over Afghanistan.
The 'anger' and 'fear' found on social media in Syria
BBC Arabic's special correspondent in Syria, Firas Kailani, said the incident (the official use of the white flag) had "shocked many people."
Kailani said it showed that the new government could follow the Taliban model and establish an Islamic state under Sharia law.
Some people expressed their "disappointment" at the move on social media.
Syrian political activist and journalist Rami Jarrah said that "the display of the Islamic flag behind interim Prime Minister Mohammed al-Bashir when he was addressing Syrians was an "insult."
He wrote on the X: "Why is the head of the interim government addressing Syrians with an Islamic flag?" They should represent all Syrians from every religious group, it is an insult to us all.
Other users have opposed the flying of “any flag other than the revolutionary flag (the official Syrian flag)” in government institutions.
Journalist Nadal al-Amari wrote on X that “we have learned a lot from the Baath Party and now we do not want to enter another era of chaos.”
But there are also many Syrians who see “nothing wrong” in flying the flag. They believe that this does not mean that the Syrian government will be modeled after the one adopted in Afghanistan.
The “Taliban flag” and concerns
December 8, 2024: HTS leader Abu Muhammad al-Jilani addresses supporters inside the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus after the fall of the Assad regime.
The ruling Taliban in Afghanistan follow an extremist Sunni and jihadist ideology. The group has been using a white flag with the Kalima on it regularly and officially since 1996.
The rebel group HTS in Syria has also been using the same flag for some time and it can be seen flying on government buildings in Idlib, which HTS controls.
Although the flags of HTS and the Taliban are similar, a senior Taliban government official told the BBC that both groups adopted the flag independently and that neither copied the other.
The Taliban government in Afghanistan is celebrating the political and military successes of the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Syria, and Taliban officials have expressed hope that an “Islamic government” will now be established in Syria.
Taliban supporters and some of their allies in Afghanistan held gatherings in several provinces to celebrate the removal of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power, where sweets were distributed to attendees.
November 25, 2024: A large Taliban flag is flying in Kabul
The ‘ideological connection’ between the Taliban and HTS is perhaps the reason why the Taliban in Afghanistan are seen supporting the rebel group in Syria.
A senior Taliban official working in the Afghan presidential office wrote on his X account that ‘the story of Kabul and Damascus is the same, the governments in both fell on Sunday, the government in both countries was seized in 11 days and the ruling leaders in both countries fled the country.’
The same flag was also visible behind Al-Jolani during an interview with CNN last week. During the interview, he said that people should not be afraid of the Islamic system. He had assured that all the diverse sects of Syrian society would be represented in the next government.
Ayman al-Tamimi, an expert on Islamist groups fighting in Syria, told the BBC that the use of the flag shows that HTS wants to represent an "Islamic system" in Syria.
He added that "the flag is consistent with the long-standing position of (HTS), which presents itself as representing the Sunnis living in Syria."
However, al-Tamimi explains that "it will be very difficult for HTS to implement a Taliban-like governance model because (Syrian) society at large will not accept restrictions such as depriving girls of higher education or establishing an authoritarian government, restrictions that hinder popular elections."
Related Topics
#Syria #Middle_East
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