Elements affiliated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) arrested activists from various areas in the city of Idlib today, Friday, May 24, coinciding with demonstrations in the city demanding the overthrow of the faction leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani.
Enab Baladi verified the arrest of Dr. Farouk Kashkash, one of the coordinators of the popular movement in Idlib, and Adam Suleiman, Ahmad al-Shughri, Rami Abdul Haqq, and Yahya Sayed Yusuf, according to activists and video recordings of relatives of the detainees.
The Minister of Interior in the Syrian Salvation Government (SSG), Muhammad Abdul Rahman, said in a statement today that the leaders of the movement practiced intellectual terrorism on the rightful demonstrators, worked to distort those seeking reform, dragged the region into the unknown, divided ranks, and returned to internal fighting. Therefore, it was necessary to present the matter to the public prosecutor who in turn authorized the arrest of some key figures responsible for this matter, and they will be referred to the competent judiciary accordingly.
He mentioned that these figures played a significant role in encouraging the carrying of weapons and explosive belts, in addition to insults, slander, and abuse towards officials and employees, and causing the disruption of institutional work on many occasions, according to his statement.
Following the arrest of the activists, the Revolutionary Movement Group in Idlib announced the cessation of all communication and dialogue channels with military entities and initiative holders, and called for a comprehensive peaceful civil disobedience starting tomorrow morning through several steps:
- Massive demonstrations in all areas and a sit-in conducted with cars on the Idlib-Sarmada road for one hour daily.
- Car sit-ins at main and Sarmada and Hazano roundabouts for half an hour daily.
- Demonstrations at the Bab al-Hawa border crossing with Turkey.
- A general strike and closure of shops in the region.
Demonstrators in the town of Binnish in eastern Idlib demanding the overthrow of the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham Abu Mohammad al-Jolani – May 24, 2024 (Omar Haj Kadour/Facebook)
Several scattered demonstrations took place today, demanding the overthrow of the faction leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the abolition of the General Security Service, the release of detainees, rejection of the monopoly of decision-making, and the concentration of power, held in 18 demonstration points.
In contrast, Tahrir al-Sham deployed military and security forces on main roads and prominent roundabouts and cities to prevent demonstrators from reaching the city center.
The Ministry of Interior in the Salvation Government, the political umbrella of the HTS, also deployed security forces affiliated with the General Security Administration and set up checkpoints on the Binnish-Idlib road.
The deployment of special task units affiliated with the Ministry of Interior of the Salvation Government on the Idlib-Binnish road before demonstrations demanding the overthrow of Abu Mohammad al-Jolani – May 24, 2024 (Al-Mohrar Media)
On May 13, elements affiliated with Tahrir al-Sham assaulted protesters with sticks and batons in a protest tent in central Idlib, fired into the air, and removed the tent.
On May 17, elements assaulted demonstrators with batons in Jisr al-Shughour west of Idlib, fired into the air, while elements assaulted demonstrators in Binnish with stones and tear gas, and attempted to run over demonstrators with military vehicles.
These incidents were met with a different narrative from the HTS and the Salvation Government, claiming that the protesters initiated the assault.
The popular movement is moving towards escalation after three months of its inception, with al-Jolani’s vow not to compromise, stating that the demands have deviated from their path and that the time for demands has ended.