Syria’s de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, met on Sunday with Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt in another attempt to reassure minorities that their rights will be protected, following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad by Islamist rebels two weeks ago, Reuters reported.
Sharaa emphasized that no sect would be excluded in Syria in what he described as “a new era far removed from sectarianism.”
Sharaa heads the Islamic group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the main group that forced Assad to step down on December 8. Some Syrians and foreign powers have expressed concerns that he may impose strict Islamic rule in a country with a diverse population including Druze, Kurds, Christians, and Alawites.
“We take pride in our culture, our faith, and our Islam. Being part of the Islamic environment does not mean excluding other sects. On the contrary, it is our duty to protect them,” he said during the meeting with Jumblatt, in comments broadcast by the Lebanese network Al Jadeed.
Jumblatt, a veteran politician and prominent Druze leader, stated that Assad’s downfall should lead to new constructive relations between Lebanon and Syria. The Druze are an Arab minority that follows a branch of Islam.
