Understanding HTS and the New Syria with Bilal Abdul Kareem

Become a member to ger access to exclusive monthly calls: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/membershipSyria is now free. But what does the future hold for a revolution that we believed had all but been decimated? The most recent spectacular offensive has given the rebel groups control over the country's major cities. There now is an appetite for change and unity. I have been struck by the jubilation felt by most Syrians as the tyrant fell. Many who escaped his brutality are returning. The optimism has to be maintained, and the positivity it expresses should not be replaced with the pessimism shown by some partial commentators who are wishing for Syria to fail.But challenges remain. How do we navigate these? And what of the people who are now at the centre of the new government? I have the pleasure of having Bilal Abdul Kareem on the show to help us understand the complexities of the road ahead and analyse the current players.Bilal Abdul Kareem is a video journalist who has been covering the conflict in Syria since 2012. He has produced reports for CNN, Channel 4, BBC, and Sky News and runs his own news channel, On The Ground News.You can also support The Thinking Muslim through a one-time donation: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/DonateListen to the audio version of the podcast:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vXiAjVFnhNI3T9Gkw636aApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-thinking-muslim/id1471798762Sign up to Muhammad Jalal's newsletter: https://jalalayn.substack.comPurchase our Thinking Muslim mug: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/merchFind us on:Squarespace: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/membershipTwitter: https://twitter.com/thinking_muslimFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Thinking-Muslim-Podcast-105790781361490Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkingmuslimpodcast/Telegram: https://t.me/thinkingmuslimBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/thinkingmuslim.bsky.socialHost: https://twitter.com/jalalaynWebsite Archive: https://www.thinkingmuslim.comTimestamps:0:00 – Introduction2:30 – HTS ideology5:55 – Justice – Islamic call8:41 – Jolani – positive?11:50 – Bilal too pessimistic?14:34 – New Syria16:31 – Toleration of Journalists17:49 – Capability to govern20:11 – Israel23:30 – How far is Israel in Syria26:00 – Assad central to resisting Israel?28:06 - Where Islam fits?33:28 – New government and the West35:54 – Syrian Prisons39:38 – SDF43:35 – Iran and Hezbollah46:25 – Iran’s role in Syria49:18 – Anti-Imperialist left52:18 – Syrian Mindset Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.