SYRIA: HOW JIHADIST GROUP JABHAT AL-NUSRA IS TAKING OVER
SYRIA'S REVOLUTION
Aleppo has been plunged into despair. Riven with war, life
in Syria's most populous city has become a dog-eat-dog existence: a battle for
survival in a place where the strong devour the weak.
By Ruth Sherlock, Aleppo
EN ESPAÑOL : http://www.rebelion.org/noticia.php?id=163701
HERE EXTRACTS IN ENGLISH
Its luxuriant history is lost
beneath uncollected litter on its pavements and streets. Feral children play
beside buildings shattered by shelling and air strikes. There is no
electricity, no heating; gunmen prowl the streets as night falls. Some are
rebels searching for government loyalists; others are criminals looking to
kidnap for ransom. Looting is rife.
It is here, behind the front lines
of the war against Bashar al-Assad that a new struggle is emerging. It is a
clash of ideologies: a competition where rebel brigades vie to determine the
shape of post-Assad Syria.
And in recent weeks it is Jabhat
al-Nusra, a radical jihadist group blacklisted by the US as terrorists and a
group that wants Syria to be an uncompromising Islamic state governed by
sharia, that is holding sway.
The group is well funded – probably
through established global jihadist networks – in comparison to moderates.
Meanwhile pro-democracy rebel group commanders say money from foreign
governments has all but dried up because of fears over radical Islamists.
The effect is changing the face of
the Syrian revolution.
The Nusra Front is known for some of
the bravest fighters on the front lines. But the fundamentalist movement is now
focusing on highly effective humanitarian programs that are quickly winning the
loyalty of Aleppo’s residents.
Imbued with discipline borne of
religious dogmatism it is catering to basic needs in a city that lacks
everything from working factories to courts.
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The Daily Telegraph gained rare
access to Hajji Rasoul, the senior al-Nusra commander – or “emir” – who heads
the civil program. “We have enough bread to help all the liberated areas,” he
said. “We have put aside enough grain to last eight months in Aleppo.
“We are subsidising farmers so that
they can prepare for the harvest and replenish the stores.”
Deeply conservative, Mr Rasoul faced
forward in the front seat of the car and turned the mirror to avoid an
accidental glimpse of this female reporter. His words were chosen carefully.
Beyond the bread project, he said, the Nusra Front was encouraging businessmen
to reopen their factories – Syria’s economic engines. They were even starting a
project to clean Aleppo’s streets, he said.
He painted a picture far removed
from his organisation’s blood-curdling reputation. On global jihadist websites
it has claimed responsibility for car and suicide bombings that have killed
hundreds of civilians as well as military targets across Syria. For many
Syrians Nusra is synonymous with al-Qaeda. Many of their fighters are foreign
jihadists; some fought with al-Qaeda in Iraq. Mr Rasoul sought to deny that
they were extremists: “There is a wrong image in the West that Jabhat al-Nusra
is Scarface. Jabhat al Nusra is human and we don’t hate anyone. We don’t hate
Christians.
“We are not al-Qaeda. Just because
some of our members share in its ideas, it doesn’t mean we are part of the
group.”
Mr Rasoul would not be drawn on the
Nusra Front’s exact plan for Syria’s future. But in rebel-held Aleppo a new
sharia court is fast becoming a central power in the city. It is shared with
the three other hardline Islamist groups operating in rebel territory: Ahrar
al-Sham, Fijr al-Islam and Liwa Tawhid, though Jabhat al-Nusra takes the lead.
It refuses to employ judges who
worked under the regime, choosing religious leaders to pass judgments.
Some sharia rulings, such as cutting
off a hand for theft, are not operational in wartime. But locals complain of
other rigid strictures being enforced.
Several men before the court said
that their charges included “drinking alcohol” or “fraternising with women”.
All this has angered many Aleppo residents, most of whom are moderate Muslims.
“I was wearing a long coat, with
wide jeans below it, and I was outside the mosque,” said one woman. “One told
me: 'my sister, your clothes are not Muslim clothes. You should not put on make
up and you should dress in black’.”
Other rebel groups are maintaining
an increasingly strained unity – at least while the battle against the Syrian
regime continues. Most say the next battle is against the Jihadists.
“When we started this fight against
the regime it was to transform Syria into a modern state. Al Jabhat want an
Islamic revolution. But in Syria we are not radical Islamists,” said Abu
Obeida, the commander of a local Aleppan brigade.
Mr Obeida said groups like his were
losing popularity, unable to match the jihadists social programmes.
One resident said: “I don’t like
Jabhat al-Nusra. But I am telling you that, these guys will rule – for a time.
It is a matter of how long before us Syrians realise we need to take their
destiny in their own hands.”
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