Abu Mohammed al-Julani, the militant leader who led the insurgency that ousted Syria’s President Bashar Assad, has spent years reshaping his public image.
He distanced himself from al-Qaida, presenting himself as a proponent of pluralism and tolerance. Recently, his insurgent group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), dropped his nom de guerre and began using his real name, Ahmad al-Sharaa.
Once a hard-line Islamist, al-Julani now strives to appear as a state builder, aiming to decentralise power in Syria and offer a more inclusive government. His leadership has grown influential as insurgents captured Damascus and Assad fled, leaving the country in flux.
While many fear the rise of Sunni Islamist extremists, al-Julani’s HTS, despite its roots, seeks to consolidate power, particularly in Idlib province, where it has ruled for years.
Al-Julani’s transformation from a jihadist to a potential statesman is being tested as Syria’s future hangs in the balance.
His journey from al-Qaida’s affiliate leader to the head of HTS, which is now a powerful faction in the Syrian conflict, has been marked by a shift in rhetoric and actions, including efforts to embrace Syria’s diverse ethnic and religious groups.
