Category: MUSLIM TODAY

MADINAH – Masjid Nabawi menerima 4,000 jemaah, lelaki dan wanita, dari 120 negara untuk I’tikaf (tinggal di masjid untuk tujuan ibadah) sepanjang 10 malam terakhir Ramadan.

Apabila tiba, jemaah diarahkan ke kawasan yang ditetapkan: bahagian atas bumbung barat untuk lelaki, boleh diakses melalui tangga No. 6 dan 10, dan bahagian timur laut untuk wanita, dengan pintu masuk melalui pintu 24 dan 25A.

Pihak Berkuasa Am bagi Hal Ehwal Masjidil Haram dan Masjid Nabawi segera mula menyediakan perkhidmatan untuk memudahkan ibadah dengan mudah dan selesa, lapor Agensi Akhbar Saudi (SPA).

Antara perkhidmatan tersebut ialah meja bantuan khusus untuk jemaah, loker selamat untuk barang-barang, klinik perubatan, pertolongan cemas, sokongan terjemahan pelbagai bahasa, pelajaran agama dan penyediaan hidangan penuh untuk berbuka puasa, makan malam dan sahur.

Selain itu, stesen pengecasan mudah alih disediakan, dan setiap jemaah menerima kit penjagaan diri dan gelang tangan untuk memudahkan pergerakan, akses ke kawasan yang ditetapkan dan penyediaan perkhidmatan yang lancar.

AN, 21 Mac 2025

RIYADH – Pihak Berkuasa Hiburan Am (GEA) Arab Saudi mengeluarkan butiran Acara Aidilfitri 2025, yang menampilkan pelbagai aktiviti untuk menandakan majlis itu.

GEA telah melancarkan sambutan di seluruh negara yang menampilkan konsert, persembahan teater, bunga api, dan pelbagai aktiviti di seluruh zon hiburan Saudi, menawarkan pengalaman yang tidak dapat dilupakan untuk penduduk dan pengunjung, lapor Agensi Akhbar Saudi (SPA).

Konsert muzikal akan berlangsung di bandar Riyadh, Shaqra, Abha, Qassim, Jeddah, dan Wilayah Timur, manakala produksi teater akan mengambil bahagian tengah pentas di Riyadh (1-19 April), Jeddah (1-6 April) dan Dammam (1-3 April).

Bunga api akan menerangi langit malam pada 9 malam di lokasi utama, termasuk Boulevard World di Riyadh, Jeddah Art Promenade, Alkhobar Corniche dan Arruddaf Park di Taif.

Sambutan Aidilfitri akan bermula pada hari pertama di Riyadh’s Boulevard City, Boulevard World, VIA Riyadh, dan Jeddah Art Promenade, dengan City Hub di Alkhobar menganjurkan perayaan pada hari kedua, menyediakan hiburan yang pelbagai dan mesra keluarga.

Acara berkenaan menekankan dedikasi GEA untuk meraikan hari raya dan memajukan sektor hiburan Saudi.

AN, 19 Mac 2025

RIYADH – Kepimpinan Arab Saudi meluluskan pengeluaran lebih SR3 bilion ($800 juta) kepada penerima manfaat keselamatan sosial sebagai sebahagian daripada inisiatif bantuan semasa bulan suci Ramadan.

Di bawah kepimpinan Raja Salman dan Putera Mahkota Mohammed bin Salman, skim itu akan menangani keperluan keluarga penerima dan memenuhi keperluan mereka semasa Ramadan, lapor Agensi Akhbar Saudi (SPA).

Lebih SR3 bilion akan diberikan seperti berikut: setiap pencari nafkah akan menerima SR1,000, dan setiap tanggungan dalam isi rumah akan menerima SR500. Dana itu akan dimasukkan terus ke dalam akaun bank penerima pada Selasa, 18 Mac, kata SPA.

Menteri Sumber Manusia dan Pembangunan Sosial Saudi Ahmad bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi melahirkan rasa terima kasih kepada kepimpinan Saudi kerana membantu menyediakan rakyat dengan rezeki yang layak.

Inisiatif itu adalah sebahagian daripada usaha kerajaan Arab Saudi untuk meningkatkan kualiti hidup dan meningkatkan taraf hidup penerima manfaat keselamatan sosial, terutama semasa Ramadan, tambah SPA.

AN

MANILA – Ketika mereka berusaha untuk mengukuhkan ikatan dalam komuniti minoriti Islam Filipina, sekumpulan pelajar membawa buka puasa ke pelbagai universiti di Manila pada Ramadan untuk mempromosikan hubungan bermakna dalam kalangan remaja Islam dan rakan sebaya Katolik mereka.

Di Filipina majoriti Katolik, umat Islam membentuk kira-kira 10 peratus daripada 120 juta penduduknya, kebanyakannya tinggal di pulau Mindanao dan di kepulauan Sulu di selatan negara itu, serta di Manila.

Sepanjang Ramadan, yang bermula pada 2 Mac tahun ini, pelajar Muslim Filipina yang membentuk Persatuan Pelajar bagi Hal Ehwal Islam, Inc., atau SAIA, telah menjalankan inisiatif “University Tour Iftar” untuk menyatukan anak muda Islam di ibu negara Filipina dan membina hubungan yang lebih mendalam dengan belia bukan Islam.

“Di sinilah pelajar Islam di sekitar Metro Manila berkumpul dan berbuka puasa bersama-sama, sambil kita mengenali antara satu sama lain dan mengeratkan hubungan kita,” kata Presiden SAIA Alinaid Angcob II kepada Arab News (AN).

SAIA telah ditubuhkan pada 2009 oleh pelajar Muslim dan profesional muda dari universiti di Manila dengan misi menyatukan belia dalam komuniti mereka dan memberi inspirasi kepada mereka untuk cemerlang dalam kerjaya mereka.

Sejak ia mula dilancarkan pada Ramadan 2023, acara iftar SAIA telah menjadi perhimpunan kira-kira 30 hingga 50 orang. Tahun ini, majlis berbuka puasa setakat ini telah diadakan di pelbagai universiti di Manila, termasuk Universiti Makati, Universiti Politeknik Filipina dan Universiti Normal Filipina.

“Kami sentiasa cenderung untuk mempunyai suasana mesra dan perpaduan dalam kalangan kami, walaupun dengan perbezaan budaya kami,” kata Angcob.

Semasa acara berbuka puasa, sebelum mereka menutup hari puasa dengan hidangan yang lazat, Angcob dan pasukannya turut menganjurkan perbincangan mengenai puasa dan kepentingan Ramadan. Mereka mengalu-alukan orang bukan Islam sebagai satu cara untuk meningkatkan kesedaran tentang Islam dan meningkatkan ikatan antara agama.

“Salah satu misi terbesar organisasi kami adalah untuk mengukuhkan ikatan persaudaraan, persaudaraan dalam kalangan pelajar dan profesional Islam di Metro Manila. Jadi, kami fikir salah satu cara kami boleh mencapai perpaduan dan persaudaraan itu adalah melalui salo-salo (makanan bersama),” Jaffar Malic, naib presiden luar SAIA, memberitahu AN.

Kurma sentiasa menjadi sebahagian daripada hidangan berbuka puasa, walaupun kumpulan itu cuba menambah hidangan istimewa serantau, seperti mi nasi gaya Maranao, supaya orang bukan Islam boleh belajar tentang kepelbagaian makanan, adat dan tradisi dalam masyarakat Islam Filipina.

Mereka mendapat sokongan daripada perniagaan milik orang Islam di Manila dan sumbangan daripada rakan-rakan untuk menjalankan program iftar.

“Banyak perniagaan terutama di Metro Manila yang dimiliki oleh orang Islam sangat bersedia untuk menyokong usaha kami kerana mereka dapat melihat bahawa kami mempunyai dorongan ini untuk membantu dan menyatukan pelajar Islam di Metro Manila. Ada juga orang bukan Islam, seperti sebahagian daripada mereka adalah kawan saya, yang memberi sumbangan,” kata Malic.

“Walaupun makanannya ringkas, perkongsiannya sangat membantu. Ia mewujudkan peluang untuk dialog dan bagi orang bukan Islam untuk merasai pengalaman menjadi sebahagian daripada komuniti kami.”

Baginya, menjadi sebahagian daripada SAIA dan menyertai program iftar memberikannya “rasa kekitaan” sebagai seorang Muslim di Filipina.

“Ia seperti mencari komuniti yang memahami anda tentang siapa anda dan apa yang anda percayai tanpa berkompromi,” katanya. “Ia adalah masalah yang sangat besar untuk kita semua, terutama kerana kita berada di sini di Metro Manila, yang merupakan tempat yang didominasi oleh orang bukan Islam.”

Inisiatif ini juga telah mendapat maklum balas positif daripada bukan Islam yang mengambil bahagian.

“Kami benar-benar dapat melihat bahawa mereka mula mengembangkan rasa ingin tahu dan keinginan untuk mengetahui lebih lanjut tentang Islam terutama kerana kebanyakan mereka mempunyai rakan Muslim, dan mereka ingin mengetahui perspektif dan memahami pengalaman rakan Islam mereka,” kata Malic. “Ia benar-benar lebih daripada sekadar hidangan.”

Lenon, pelajar Universiti Normal Filipina yang pergi bersama dua lagi bukan Islam, adalah antara mereka yang menghadiri majlis berbuka puasa untuk menyokong rakan Islamnya.

“Kami bersetuju untuk datang, dengan harapan dapat mempelajari sesuatu tentang agama rakan kami supaya kami boleh berhubung dengannya dengan lebih baik,” kata Lenon.

Perbincangan itu merupakan sumber pemahaman yang lebih baik tentang Ramadan bagi hadirin bukan Islam, seperti Janelle.

“Saya belajar bahawa puasa bukan hanya tentang makanan; ia juga mengenai disiplin dan kekuatan iman,” katanya.

AN

MAKKAH – Pengakap muda Makkah di Persatuan Pengakap Arab Saudi menawarkan 11,800 jam secara sukarela sepanjang 10 hari pertama Ramadan.

Dengan kerjasama Jabatan Kementerian Pendidikan Makkah, kem khidmat jemaah haji persatuan itu mengerahkan 295 pengakap untuk membantu jemaah umrah di Makkah sepanjang Ramadan.

Ziyad Qadeer, ketua kem, berkata kem itu memainkan peranan penting dalam mempromosikan kesukarelawanan, patriotisme, dan imej positif pemuda Saudi, mengesahkan bahawa perkhidmatan mereka akan diteruskan sepanjang Ramadan.

Kem itu juga bekerjasama dengan Pihak Berkuasa Am bagi Penjagaan Hal Ehwal Masjidil Haram dan Masjid Nabawi, Kluster Kesihatan Makkah, dan Direktorat Am Keselamatan Awam.

AN, 12 Mac 2025

JEDDAH – Kementerian Hal Ehwal Islam, Dakwah dan Bimbingan Arab Saudi mengedarkan puluhan ribu naskhah Al-Quran kepada jemaah umrah yang tiba di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa King Abdulaziz di Jeddah pada Ahad.

Kementerian itu mengedarkan 29,000 naskhah al-Quran dalam bahasa Arab dan bahasa lain kepada ketibaan baharu, menurut Agensi Akhbar Saudi (SPA). Kompleks Percetakan Raja Fahd menerbitkan salinan tersebut di Madinah.

Jemaah haji yang berkunjung untuk menunaikan umrah menyatakan kegembiraan mereka apabila tiba di Saudi, memuji sambutan hangat dan memuji usaha kepimpinan Saudi untuk berkhidmat kepada Islam dan umat Islam.

Beberapa orang menyatakan bahawa senaskah Al-Quran dalam bahasa mereka adalah hadiah yang berharga dan akan menemani mereka lama selepas pulang ke tanah air, tambah SPA.

AN, 9 Mac 2025

MADINAH – Kluster Kesihatan Madinah melancarkan perkhidmatan skuter kecemasan baharu di Masjid Nabawi bagi membolehkan paramedik memberikan bantuan perubatan segera kepada pengunjung sepanjang Ramadan, lapor Agensi Akhbar Saudi (SPA) pada Sabtu.

Dengan beribu-ribu jemaah memenuhi halaman masjid, bergerak melalui orang ramai boleh mencabar pasukan perubatan. Skuter itu akan memudahkan mereka untuk “menavigasi kawasan sibuk, menangani kes kecemasan, dan memindahkan pesakit ke hospital dan pusat jagaan berdekatan jika perlu,” menurut SPA.

Sembilan puluh satu orang telah pun mendapat manfaat daripada perkhidmatan itu sejak dilancarkan, lapor SPA.

Semua mereka dirujuk ke kemudahan penjagaan kesihatan di kawasan pusat, termasuk Wakaf Kesihatan Al-Shifa, Hospital Kecemasan Haram, dan Pusat Penjagaan Segera Safiyyah dan Bab Jibreel.

Inisiatif baharu itu “mencerminkan usaha Kluster Kesihatan Madinah ke arah keselamatan dan kesejahteraan pengunjung,” kata SPA.

AN

MAKKAH – Timbalan Gabenor Makkah Putera Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz baru-baru ini merasmikan Muzium Quran di Daerah Budaya Hira, Makkah.

Dibangunkan di bawah pengawasan dan dengan sokongan daripada Suruhanjaya Diraja untuk Kota Makkah dan Tapak Suci, muzium ini menonjolkan Quran sebagai sumber panduan utama bagi umat Islam dan direka untuk memperkayakan pengalaman keagamaan dan budaya untuk penduduk tempatan dan pelawat.

Ia adalah rumah kepada manuskrip yang jarang ditemui, salinan sejarah al-Quran dan paparan interaktif yang membolehkan pelawat menerokai perjalanan transkripsi al-Quran dan pemeliharaannya melalui sejarah, lapor Agensi Akhbar Saudi (SPA).

Menjangkau kira-kira 67,000 meter persegi, Daerah Kebudayaan Hira merupakan pusat tumpuan bagi mereka yang ingin merasai semangat dan sejarah Makkah. Berpusat di Gunung Hira, tempat wahyu pertama turun, ia merangkumi pelbagai kemudahan yang direka untuk meningkatkan pengalaman keagamaan dan pendidikan.

Antaranya ialah Pameran Wahyu, yang menawarkan gambaran interaktif tentang turunnya wahyu, dan satu lagi yang membolehkan pengunjung naik ke Gua Hira yang merupakan tempat kejadian wahyu.

Antara artifak yang dipamerkan ialah salinan bergambar manuskrip al-Quran Utsman bin Affan dan beberapa batu bersurat kuno ayat al-Quran.

Projek itu juga menggabungkan Muzium Kopi Saudi, Perpustakaan Budaya dan Taman Hira.

Muzium Quran akan terus dibuka sepanjang Ramadan.

AN

RIYADH – Agensi kerajaan di Makkah mula melaksanakan rancangan untuk menyediakan perkhidmatan terbaik untuk pengunjung dan jemaah umrah sepanjang Ramadan, dengan kebanjiran tinggi jemaah dari dalam dan luar negara dijangka.

Pihak Berkuasa Am untuk Penjagaan Masjidil Haram dan Masjid Nabawi telah melancarkan rancangan musim Ramadan dengan beberapa projek, lapor Agensi Akhbar Saudi (SPA).

Perkhidmatan Tahallul daripada Nusuk telah diuji di lima lokasi dalam Masjidil Haram, mengikut piawaian kebersihan yang ketat. Buat pertama kalinya, pihak berkuasa menawarkan perkhidmatan gunting rambut mudah alih melalui kereta yang direka khas yang bergerak bersama orang ramai.

Selain itu, perkhidmatan penyimpanan bagasi telah dipertingkatkan dengan rak yang ditetapkan dan sistem pengesanan elektronik, termasuk enam tempat menurunkan di pintu masuk utama masjid.

Bilangan kereta golf elektrik telah digandakan kepada 400, diedarkan di 11 lokasi di dalam Masjidil Haram, lapor SPA.

Pihak berkuasa telah menambah baik pengagihan hidangan berbuka puasa melalui pendaftaran elektronik, memperkenalkan tanda panduan berasaskan lokasi untuk akses pelawat, dan meningkatkan kehadiran pasukan pelapor sepanjang masa untuk mengendalikan pertanyaan dan permintaan penyelenggaraan.

Dalam penyelarasan dengan pihak berkuasa yang berkaitan, pihak berkuasa telah membangunkan pelan pengurusan dan bimbingan orang ramai dalam Dua Masjid Suci dan halaman mereka. Kakitangan khusus telah digunakan untuk bimbingan spatial, dan laluan yang jelas telah ditetapkan bagi memastikan pergerakan lancar.

Ruang solat di kedua-dua masjid telah disediakan bagi menampung jumlah jemaah terbanyak di samping memastikan keselesaan mereka.

Pihak berkuasa juga telah melancarkan inisiatif Walking Guides, menyediakan pasukan terlatih untuk membantu pelawat dan pelaku umrah dalam mengemudi masjid dan menjawab pertanyaan dalam pelbagai bahasa.

Sementara itu, Perbandaran Makkah telah mula melaksanakan rancangannya untuk perkhidmatan perbandaran, termasuk sanitasi awam, pelupusan sampah, kawalan perosak, dan pemantauan pertubuhan komersial yang berkaitan dengan kesihatan awam.

Perkhidmatannya juga termasuk memeriksa kesesuaian produk makanan, menyelenggara dan membersihkan kemudahan perbandaran, menyediakan infrastruktur, dan menyelia tandas awam, taman, kawasan hijau dan rangkaian saliran.

Kementerian Hal Ehwal Islam, Dakwah dan Bimbingan wilayah Makkah telah mula melaksanakan rancangannya untuk mengalu-alukan jemaah di seluruh muhafazah wilayah itu.

Ini termasuk membersihkan, melengkapkan, mewangikan masjid, menyelenggara peralatan, memastikan ketersediaan bekalan solat, dan mempergiatkan lawatan pemeriksaan untuk mengesahkan kesediaan masjid menerima jemaah.

AN

JEDDAH – Streets and public spaces across Saudi Arabia have been adorned with festive decorations, including illuminating crescents and lanterns, symbolizing the joy and anticipation that fills the air as citizens and residents mark the arrival of the holy month of Ramadan.

Throughout the Kingdom, residents are embracing traditional Ramadan customs by decorating their homes with welcoming messages and cheerful ornaments, exchanging heartfelt greetings and organizing family gatherings.

These traditions play a vital role in strengthening bonds of kinship and fostering a strong sense of community during this sacred time.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, traditional markets and public squares in historic Jeddah have become vibrant hubs as Ramadan begins, drawing locals, residents and tourists alike to Al-Balad district for seasonal shopping.

Shoppers are flocking to the bustling streets of old Jeddah, where merchants offer everything needed for Ramadan preparations, from essential food items for traditional dishes and sweets to a variety of coffee and spices.

The shops selling Ramadan lanterns and decorative lights are particularly busy as families prepare to adorn their homes for the holy month, continuing cherished social traditions in Jeddah. Stores are also stocked with kitchenware, serving dishes and hospitality items to meet seasonal demands.

Merchants are providing a wide range of products at competitive prices, with traditional pottery items remaining especially popular among elderly shoppers who appreciate these cultural treasures.

The Ministry of Culture is also hosting Ramadan Season in cities nationwide. The initiative features cultural and community events highlighting Ramadan’s heritage and Saudi traditions.

Under the slogan “Our Nights Have Returned,” the ministry has decorated roads and public spaces with lights and installations. Key locations in Riyadh and Jeddah, including Al-Ghadeer Walkway, Olaya Street and the Jeddah Corniche, will be illuminated during the holy month.

The Jeddah Historic district will host events, including a historical houses area with restaurants and cafes offering iftar and sahoor experiences. “Balad Stalls” will provide a food destination with stalls, trucks and seating.

The ministry is celebrating Saudi Ramadan traditions through a cultural experience combining entertainment and education, reinforcing cultural awareness and social values.

In parallel, the Ministry of Commerce has stepped up its oversight in preparation for Ramadan, conducting more than 19,000 inspection visits throughout the Makkah region.

These regulatory efforts ensure that commercial establishments, particularly those selling food, consumer goods and clothing, are adhering to discount regulations and maintaining the availability of essential goods for consumers.

AN, 1 March 2025

RIYADH – King Salman meluluskan pengedaran 1.2 juta naskhah Al-Quran dan tafsirannya dalam 79 bahasa kepada pusat Islam dan kebudayaan, serta pejabat atase agama di kedutaan Arab Saudi di luar negara.

Inisiatif itu, sebahagian daripada program pemberian naskhah al-Quran oleh King Salman, dilaksanakan oleh Kementerian Hal Ehwal Islam sepanjang Ramadan dan meliputi 45 negara, lapor Agensi Akhbar Saudi (SPA) pada Rabu.

Menteri Hal Ehwal Islam Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Asheikh melahirkan rasa terima kasih kepada king dan Putera Mahkota Mohammed bin Salman atas penjagaan dan sokongan berterusan mereka terhadap umat Islam di seluruh dunia.

Dia menyifatkan naskhah bercetak sebagai antara yang terbaik dan paling teliti dihasilkan di peringkat global, menekankan bahawa program itu mencerminkan dedikasi kepimpinan dalam menyebarkan al-Quran dan membolehkan umat Islam di seluruh dunia mendapat manfaat daripadanya, terutama pada Ramadan.

Al-Asheikh juga menekankan sokongan berterusan kepimpinan terhadap kementerian dalam berkhidmat kepada Islam dan umat Islam sambil menggalakkan toleransi dan kewujudan bersama sebagai nilai teras Islam.

Dia berkata semua persiapan untuk penghantaran salinan ke negara penerima telah disiapkan selaras dengan strategi kementerian yang diluluskan untuk tahun ini.

Pengagihan itu akan diselaraskan dengan pejabat atase agama, pusat gabungan kementerian, dan pelbagai majlis dan organisasi Islam bagi memastikan penghantaran tepat pada masanya sepanjang Ramadan.

AN

BEIT LAHIYA, Genting Gaza – Apabila malam tiba di utara Gaza, sebahagian besar lanskap bandar bangunan runtuh dan serpihan bertimbun menjadi gelap gelita.

Tinggal di dalam runtuhan rumah mereka, anak lelaki Rawya Tamboura yang masih kecil berasa takut akan kegelapan, jadi dia menghidupkan lampu suluh dan lampu telefonnya untuk menghiburkan mereka, selagi bateri masih ada.

Terlantar untuk sebahagian besar perang selama 16 bulan, Tamboura kembali ke rumahnya. Tetapi ia masih merupakan cangkang kehidupan yang mengecewakan, dia berkata: Tiada air mengalir, elektrik, haba atau perkhidmatan, dan tiada alat untuk membersihkan runtuhan di sekeliling mereka.

Hampir 600,000 penduduk Palestin membanjiri kembali ke utara Gaza di bawah gencatan senjata yang kini berusia sebulan di Gaza, menurut Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB). Selepas kelegaan awal dan kegembiraan kerana kembali ke rumah mereka – walaupun rosak atau musnah – mereka kini menghadapi realiti hidup dalam runtuhan untuk masa hadapan.

“Sesetengah orang berharap perang tidak pernah berakhir, merasakan lebih baik terbunuh,” kata Tamboura.

“Saya tidak tahu apa yang akan kami lakukan untuk jangka panjang. Otak saya terhenti merancang untuk masa depan.”

Gencatan senjata selama enam minggu akan berakhir pada Sabtu, dan tidak pasti apa yang akan berlaku seterusnya. Terdapat usaha untuk melanjutkan ketenangan kerana fasa seterusnya dirundingkan. Jika pertempuran meletus lagi, mereka yang kembali ke utara boleh mendapati diri mereka sekali lagi berada di tengah-tengahnya.

Kerja membina semula secara besar-besaran tiada cara untuk mula

Laporan minggu lalu oleh Bank Dunia, PBB dan Kesatuan Eropah (EU) menganggarkan ia akan menelan belanja kira-kira $53 bilion untuk membina semula Gaza selepas seluruh kawasan kejiranan musnah akibat pengeboman dan serangan Israel terhadap militan Hamas. Pada masa ini, hampir tiada kapasiti atau pembiayaan untuk memulakan pembinaan semula yang ketara.

Satu keutamaan ialah menjadikan Gaza segera didiami. Pada awal Februari, Hamas mengancam untuk menahan pembebasan tebusan melainkan lebih banyak khemah dan tempat perlindungan sementara dibenarkan masuk ke Gaza.

Ia kemudian membalikkan dan mempercepatkan pembebasan tebusan selepas Israel bersetuju untuk membenarkan rumah bergerak dan peralatan pembinaan.

Agensi kemanusiaan telah meningkatkan perkhidmatan, menyediakan dapur percuma dan stesen penghantaran air, dan mengedarkan khemah dan terpal kepada ratusan ribu di seluruh Gaza, menurut PBB.

Presiden Donald Trump meningkatkan tekanan dengan menggesa seluruh penduduk Gaza disingkirkan secara kekal supaya AS boleh mengambil alih wilayah itu dan membangunkannya semula untuk orang lain. Menolak cadangan itu, rakyat Palestin berkata mereka mahu bantuan untuk membina semula untuk diri mereka sendiri.

Perbandaran Gaza City mula membaiki beberapa tali air dan membersihkan runtuhan dari jalan-jalan, kata seorang jurucakap, Asem Alnabih. Tetapi ia kekurangan alat berat. Hanya beberapa daripada 40 jentolak dan lima lori sampah masih berfungsi, katanya. Gaza dipenuhi dengan lebih 50 juta tan runtuhan yang akan membawa 100 trak yang bekerja pada kapasiti penuh selama 15 tahun untuk membersihkannya, anggaran PBB.

Keluarga cuba bertahan hari demi hari

Rumah Tamboura di bandar utara Beit Lahiya telah musnah akibat serangan udara pada awal perang, jadi dia dan keluarganya tinggal di Hospital Indonesia berdekatan, tempat dia bekerja sebagai jururawat.

Selepas gencatan senjata, mereka bergerak semula ke satu-satunya bilik di rumahnya yang separuh utuh. Siling sebahagiannya runtuh, dindingnya retak; peti sejuk dan sinki yang masih hidup tidak berguna tanpa air atau elektrik. Mereka menyusun cadar dan selimut di satu sudut.

Tamboura berkata, anak lelakinya yang berusia 12 tahun membawa bekas air berat dua kali sehari dari stesen pengedaran. Mereka juga perlu mencari kayu api untuk memasak. Kemasukan bantuan bermakna terdapat makanan di pasaran dan harga turun, tetapi ia kekal mahal, katanya.

Dengan Hospital Indonesia terlalu rosak untuk berfungsi, Tamboura berjalan sejam setiap hari untuk bekerja di Hospital Kamal Adwan.

Dia mengecas telefonnya dan telefon suaminya menggunakan penjana hospital.

Ramai saudara-mara Tamboura pulang untuk tidak menemui apa-apa yang tinggal di rumah mereka, jadi mereka tinggal di dalam khemah di atas atau di sebelah runtuhan yang diterbangkan angin musim sejuk atau banjir semasa hujan, katanya.

Asmaa Dwaima dan keluarganya kembali ke Gaza City tetapi terpaksa menyewa sebuah apartmen kerana rumah mereka di kejiranan Tel Al-Hawa telah musnah. Hanya beberapa minggu selepas pulang, dia pergi melawat rumah empat tingkat mereka, kini timbunan serpihan yang rata dan terbakar.

“Saya tidak boleh datang ke sini kerana saya takut. Saya mempunyai imej rumah saya dalam fikiran saya – keindahan dan kehangatannya. … Saya takut untuk menghadapi kebenaran ini,” kata doktor gigi berusia 25 tahun itu. “Mereka bukan sahaja memusnahkan batu, mereka memusnahkan kami dan identiti kami.”

Keluarganya terpaksa membina semula rumah itu sekali sebelum ini, apabila ia diratakan oleh serangan udara semasa pusingan pertempuran antara Israel dan Hamas pada 2014, katanya.

Buat masa ini, mereka tidak mempunyai cara untuk membina semula sekarang.

“Kami perlu mengalihkan runtuhan kerana kami mahu mengeluarkan pakaian dan beberapa barangan kami,” katanya. “Kami memerlukan peralatan berat … Tiada batu bata atau alat pembinaan lain dan, jika ada, ia sangat mahal.”

Keputusasaan semakin meningkat

Tess Ingram, jurucakap UNICEF yang melawat utara Gaza sejak gencatan senjata, berkata keluarga ditemuinya “berduka kehidupan yang pernah mereka jalani ketika mereka mula membina semula”.

Keputusasaan mereka, katanya, “semakin memuncak”.

Huda Skaik, seorang pelajar berusia 20 tahun, berkongsi bilik dengan tiga adik-beradik dan ibu bapanya di rumah datuk dan neneknya di Gaza City. Ia adalah peningkatan daripada kehidupan di khemah-khemah di tengah Gaza di mana mereka dipindahkan untuk sebahagian besar peperangan, katanya.

Di sana, mereka terpaksa tinggal dalam kalangan orang asing, dan khemah mereka dihanyutkan oleh hujan. Sekurang-kurangnya di sini mereka mempunyai dinding dan bersama keluarga, katanya.

Sebelum perang terputus, Skaik baru sahaja mula belajar kesusasteraan Inggeris di Universiti Islam Gaza. Dia kini mendaftar dalam kelas dalam talian dianjurkan oleh universiti. Tetapi Internet lemah, dan elektriknya bergantung pada panel solar yang tidak selalu berfungsi.

“Bahagian yang paling teruk ialah kami baru memahami bahawa kami kehilangan semuanya,” katanya.
“Kemusnahan adalah besar, tetapi saya cuba untuk kekal positif.”

AN-AP

KABUL – Afghanistan’s only women-led radio station will resume broadcasts, the Taliban Ministry of Information and Culture announced after it suspended the outlet’s operations this month over its cooperation with foreign media outlets.

On Feb. 4, Taliban officials raided Kabul-based Radio Begum — a station run by women with programs aimed at educating girls and supporting Afghan women — and seized staff’s computers, hard drives and phones, and took into custody two male employees “who do not hold any senior management position,” the outlet said in a statement.

In a statement issued on Saturday evening, the ministry said Radio Begum had been suspended “due to the improper use of their licenses and cooperation with foreign sanctioned media outlets.”

Radio Begum has now been “granted permission to resume their activities,” the ministry said, after they made repeated requests and following a “pledge with the Broadcasting Directorate to operate in line with the principles of journalism and in accordance with the policies of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.”

It did not provide details on what those principles and policies were nor the status of the radio station’s employees who were allegedly detained.

Launched on International Women’s Day in March 2021, Radio Begum has been broadcasting hours of lessons daily, along with health, psychology and spiritual programs for women across most of Afghanistan.

Its sister satellite channel, Begum TV, operates from France and televises classes that cover the Afghan school curriculum from seventh to 12th grade, providing education for many after the Taliban banned education for women and girls after the sixth grade.

“It’s one of the few channels that discussed issues related to women and girls,” said Najiba, 28, a Kabul resident and listener of Radio Begum.

“I particularly listened to their programs on health and women entrepreneurs. I was happy to be able to receive some information about women-related health issues from the radio. The other program that featured businesswomen was also encouraging. It inspired other women and gave us hope to learn skills and work for ourselves.”

While the resumption of Radio Begum’s operations was welcomed, the initial suspension was still concerning for Meena Akbari, an Afghan women’s rights activist.

“It was a concerning move. The few media outlets that are left in the country should be supported instead of being contained and closed,” Akbari told Arab News.

Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August 2021, the country’s media landscape has been “decimated,” according to Reporters without Borders, which cited the disappearance of 43 percent of Afghan media outlets in the past four years and ranked the country 178 out of 180 in its 2024 World Press Freedom Index.

“With Afghan women and girls already facing increasing restrictions since the Taliban takeover, platforms such as these are vital for women to get information from and continue learning about different topics,” Akbari said.

“It’s a good decision that the government allowed the station to resume broadcasts. Hopefully, it continues to benefit Afghan women and Afghans in general.”

AN

KABUL – Kementerian Informasi dan Kebudayaan Taliban pada Selasa berkata ia menggantung stesen radio wanita Afghanistan, memetik “peruntukan tanpa kebenaran” kandungan dan pengaturcaraan kepada saluran TV luar negara.

Ini kali kedua pihak berkuasa menutup saluran kerana didakwa bekerja dengan media asing.

Kementerian itu berkata Radio Begum melanggar dasar penyiaran dan menggunakan lesennya secara tidak wajar.

“Keputusan ini dibuat selepas beberapa pelanggaran, termasuk penyediaan kandungan dan pengaturcaraan tanpa kebenaran kepada saluran televisyen berpangkalan asing,” kata kementerian itu, sambil menambah ia akan menyemak semua dokumen diperlukan untuk menentukan masa depan stesen itu.

Radio Begum dilancarkan pada Hari Wanita Antarabangsa pada Mac 2021, lima bulan sebelum Taliban merampas kuasa di tengah-tengah pengunduran tentera AS dan NATO yang huru-hara.

Kandungan stesen itu dihasilkan sepenuhnya oleh wanita Afghanistan. Saluran satelit saudaranya, Begum TV, beroperasi dari Perancis dan menyiarkan program pendidikan yang merangkumi kurikulum sekolah Afghanistan dari gred tujuh hingga 12.

Kumpulan hak asasi manusia, termasuk Reporters without Borders, mengutuk penggantungan pada Selasa dan menuntut ia dibatalkan.

Sejak pengambilalihan mereka, Taliban telah mengecualikan wanita daripada pendidikan, pelbagai jenis pekerjaan, dan ruang awam. Wartawan, terutama wanita, telah kehilangan pekerjaan mereka apabila Taliban mengetatkan cengkaman mereka terhadap landskap media.

Dalam indeks kebebasan akhbar 2024 daripada Reporters without Borders, Afghanistan berada di kedudukan 178 daripada 180 negara. Tahun sebelum itu ia berada di kedudukan 152.

Kementerian Informasi tidak mengenal pasti saluran TV asing yang dikatakan sedang bekerjasama dengan Radio Begum.

Mei lalu, Taliban memberi amaran kepada wartawan dan pakar di Afghanistan untuk menghentikan kerjasama mereka dengan TV Antarabangsa Afghanistan.

Ia adalah kali pertama mereka memberitahu orang ramai untuk tidak bekerjasama dengan cawangan secara spesifik.

AN-AP

MAKKAH — The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced that Feb. 14 will be the deadline for Hajj affairs offices in various countries to finalize their contracts for services related to this year’s Hajj season.

The ministry said that these contracts must be completed through the Nusuk Masar platform, designated for Hajj pilgrims from abroad, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

To ensure the best services for pilgrims, the ministry highlighted the importance of adhering to regulations set by the relevant authorities in Saudi Arabia, including requirements for air and ground transportation.

It also urged compliance with security, health and procedural guidelines outlined in the Hajj agreement between the ministry and the pertinent offices in various countries, the SPA added.

The ministry said that after the deadline, no additional contracts will be accepted, and the actual quotas for pilgrims from various countries will be determined.

The visa issuance process will commence immediately afterward, the SPA reported.

The ministry requested Hajj offices to educate their pilgrims about the necessity of following Hajj regulations and instructions, ensuring that they obtain visas and permits through official channels.

Pilgrims also need to carry identification documents, such as the Nusuk Card, from the moment of their arrival in the Kingdom.

AN

KABUL – The Taliban’s acting deputy foreign minister called on his senior leadership to open schools for Afghan girls, among the strongest public rebukes of a policy that has contributed to the international isolation of its rulers.

Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, who previously led a team of negotiators at the Taliban’s political office in Doha before U.S. forces withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021, said in a speech at the weekend that restrictions on girls and women’s education was not in line with Islamic Sharia law.

“We request the leaders of the Islamic Emirate to open the doors of education,” he said, according to local broadcaster Tolo, referring to the Taliban’s name for its administration.

“In the time of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), the doors of knowledge were open to both men and women,” he said.

“Today, out of a population of forty million, we are committing injustice against twenty million people,” he added, referring to the female population of Afghanistan.

The comments were among the strongest public criticism in recent years by a Taliban official of the school closures, which Taliban sources and diplomats have previously told Reuters were put in place by the supreme spiritual leader Haibatullah Akhundzada despite some internal disagreement.

The Taliban have said they respect women’s rights in accordance with their interpretation of Islamic law and Afghan culture.

They made a sharp u-turn on promises to open high schools for girls in 2022, and have since said they were working on a plan for the schools to re-open but have not given any timeline.

They closed universities to female students at the end of 2022.

The policies have been widely criticised internationally, including by Islamic scholars, and Western diplomats have said any path towards formal recognition of the Taliban is blocked until there is a change on their policies towards women.

A Taliban administration spokesman in the southern city of Kandahar where Haibatullah is based did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Stanekzai’s remarks.

REUTERS

TEHRAN — Iranian lawmakers have asked to amend a bill that would impose tougher penalties on women who refuse to wear the mandatory hijab, local media reported on Wednesday.

The bill, already approved in parliament but not yet submitted to the government for final confirmation, has stirred a heated debate in Iran more than two years since nationwide protests erupted in part over the Islamic republic’s dress code for women.

Shahram Dabiri, Iran’s vice president for parliamentary affairs, has requested to hold off on sending the bill for approval, according to news agency ISNA.

“We requested that the law of chastity and hijab not be referred to the government,” Dabiri was quoted by ISNA as saying, adding that “the parliament speaker requested an amendment to the bill.”

Dabiri did not specify the nature of the amendment or provide a timeline for the process.

Lawmakers in September 2023 had approved the bill, officially the “Law on Supporting the Family through the Promotion of the Culture of Chastity and Hijab.”

It has since won the approval of the Guardian Council, a body empowered to vet legislation.

The bill was initially meant to be referred to President Masoud Pezeshkian in December.

Pezeshkian, who could sign it into law, has expressed “reservations” about the text, citing numerous “ambiguities.”

The 74-article bill tightens restrictions over women’s public attire and threatens action against businesses who fail to enforce the dress code, according to the text carried by local media.

It also imposes hefty penalities of up to 10 years in prison or fines equivalent to more than $6,000 for promoting “nudity” or “indecency.”

Since the early years of the republic following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, women in Iran have been required by law to cover their head and neck.

In late 2022, a wave of protests erupted following the death in custody of 22-year-old Iranian-Kurd Mahsa Amini, who had been arrested for allegedly violating the Islamic dress code.

The months-long unrest saw hundreds of people, including dozens of security personnel, killed. Thousands of demonstrators were arrested.

AN-AFP

AL-QUSAYR, Syria — Penduduk Qusayr di tengah Syria akhirnya pulang ke tanah air selepas pemergian pejuang Hizbullah, yang membantu tentera Bashar Assad merampas bandar itu sedekad lalu dan pergi dengan kejatuhannya.

Kebanyakan rumah kini hancur, selepas bertahun-tahun di bawah kawalan kumpulan bersenjata Lubnan, sekutu utama Assad yang telah menubuhkan pangkalan tentera dan kem latihan di sana.

“Kebanyakan kawasan di bandar Qusayr adalah terlarang kepada kami,” kata penduduk berusia 22 tahun Ali Khleif.

“Malah penduduk tempatan yang memiliki kedai dan pertubuhan di situ dilarang masuk.”

Tentera Syria merampas semula Qusayr, dekat sempadan Lubnan, pada Jun 2013 selepas serangan hebat diketuai pejuang Hizbullah.

Qusayr telah digunakan oleh pemberontak sebagai titik transit untuk senjata dan pejuang dari Lubnan, dan secara strategik penting bagi kerajaan Syria kerana ia dekat dengan jalan utama menghubungkan Damsyik ke pantai.

Hizbullah menggunakan bangunan “sebagai gudang senjata dan peluru,” kata Khleif.

“Selepas pembebasan, penduduk kembali ke kedai dan tanah mereka” dan telah menuntutnya semula, katanya.

“Kami akan mula membinanya semula.”

Hizbullah mengakui pada 2013 ia berperang di Syria untuk menyokong Damsyik, dua tahun selepas perang meletus apabila Assad secara kejam menindas pemberontakan pro-demokrasi.

Kini di Qusayr, bekas pos Hizbullah telah digeledah.

Imej bekas ketua kumpulan itu Hassan Nasrallah, yang terbunuh pada September dalam serangan besar Israel di pinggir bandar selatan Beirut, telah dikerat dan dimusnahkan.

Pertempuran 2013 bagi Qusayr memaksa ribuan orang melarikan diri, termasuk ramai penduduk Lubnan di kawasan itu, yang mengekalkan hubungan rapat dengan Lembah Bekaa Lubnan di seberang sempadan.

Pejuang Hizbullah meninggalkan kawasan itu dengan kejatuhan Assad minggu lalu, selepas pemberontak pimpinan Islamis melancarkan serangan kilat, menawan ibu negara pada 8 Disember.

Peguam Ayman Soweid, 30, berkata “semasa pendudukan Hizbullah di Qusayr, bandar kami dianggap sebagai jambatan darat untuk mengangkut senjata, khususnya dari Syria dan Iran, melalui Iraq, melalui kami ke Lubnan.”

Serangan Israel juga berulang kali melanda kawasan Qusayr.

Israel, yang telah melakukan ratusan serangan di Syria sejak 2011, terutama menyasarkan tentera dan kumpulan disokong Iran termasuk Hizbullah, jarang mengulas mengenai serbuan individu tetapi berulang kali berkata ia tidak akan membenarkan Iran meluaskan kehadirannya di negara itu.

Di tempat lain di Qusayr, Samar Harfouch, 38, sedang meninjau timbunan runtuhan.

Dia berkata dia kembali pada Sabtu hanya untuk mendapati rumahnya musnah.

“Ini adalah rumah saya, dan ini adalah rumah saudara lelaki suami saya – tiga rumah,” katanya kepada AFP, juga menunjukkan lebih banyak rumah saudara terdekat.

“Semua musnah,” katanya.

“Dua belas rumah menjadi runtuhan.”

AN-AFP

KABUL — For Saja, studying nursing at a health care institute in Kabul was her last lifeline to make something of herself after women were banned from universities in Afghanistan two years ago.

But the Taliban government has crushed this ambition by ordering, according to multiple sources, the exclusion of Afghan women from medical training, sparking panic across institutions.

When she heard the news, Saja, who had been at university before women were barred, said it felt like “reliving the same nightmare.”

“This was my last hope to do something, to become something,” said Saja, not her real name.

“Everything has been taken away from us for the crime of being a girl.”

The authorities have made no official comment or confirmation, nor have they responded to the numerous condemnations and calls to reverse a decision that further blocks women’s access to education.

Since their 2021 return to power, the Taliban government has imposed reams of restrictions on women, making Afghanistan the only country to ban girls from education after primary school.

Directors and employees of health training centers have told AFP they were informed in recent days of the order, issued by the Taliban supreme leader and passed down verbally by the health ministry, to expel women students until further notice.

Institutes across the country — which many women had turned to after the university ban — were given a few days to organize final exams.

But without an explicit announcement or document clarifying the rules, confusion reigns.

Some institutions told AFP they would operate as normal until they received written orders, while others closed immediately or scrambled to hold exams before shuttering.

“Everyone is confused, and no one is sharing what is really happening,” said Saja, who was in her first year at a private institute.

“We have been given two or three exams each day… even though we already finished our exams a few months back,” said the 22-year-old, adding they had to pay fees to sit the exams.

“We received a lot of concerned messages from students and teachers wanting to know what is going on and asking ‘is there any hope?’” said the director of a Kabul private institute with 1,100 students, of which 700 were women.

“No one is happy,” he told AFP from his office steps away from women’s classrooms, where the last lesson on the board advised how to manage stress and depression in patients.

According to a source within the health ministry, 35,000 women are currently students in some 10 public and more than 150 private institutes offering two-year diplomas in subjects including nursing, midwifery, dentistry and laboratory work.

The Norwegian Afghanistan Committee (NAC) non-governmental organization, which trains 588 women in institutes managed in collaboration with the health ministry, was verbally informed classes were “temporarily suspended.”

This has to be taken “equally seriously as a written document,” said NAC country director Terje Magnusson Watterdal, adding that “there are a lot of people high up within the current government that are quite opposed to this decision.”

He hopes, at the minimum, public institutes will reopen to women.
International organizations like the United Nations, which has said Afghan women are victims of a “gender apartheid,” have already warned of devastating consequences of the plan, in a country where maternal and infant mortality are among the world’s highest.

If implemented, the reported new ban “will undoubtedly lead to unnecessary suffering, illness, and possibly deaths of Afghan women and children, now and in future generations, which could amount to femicide,” UN experts warned Monday.

Midwifery students are especially passionate about their studies, according to Magnusson Watterdal.

“So many of these young women have been motivated to become a midwife because they have lost a mother or an aunt or a sister in childbirth,” he said.

“It’s not just a profession that you choose, it’s a vocation. So, of course, there’s great desperation” among students and staff.

Small protests have been held in parts of Afghanistan, according to sources and images circulated on social media.

Assal, another student using a pseudonym, received an expedited diploma last week, but has little hope of finding a job in a country where unemployment is widespread and opportunities for women are increasingly limited.

“I wanted to practice medicine and study further,” the 20-year-old told AFP.

“They had already taken everything from us. Next thing we won’t even be allowed to breathe.”

AN-AFP, Dec 10, 2024

LONDON — In the tumultuous landscape of the Syrian conflict, one figure has remained persistently prominent: Abu Mohammed Al-Golani. Now, with the fall of the Bashar Assad regime after 13 gruelling years of civil war, he has emerged as kingmaker.

As leader of Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist group long active in Syria’s northwest, Al-Golani has evolved from a shadowy militant figure with a $10 million bounty on his head into a revolutionary nationalist and widely recognized political actor.

Born Ahmad Hussein Al-Shar’a in 1981 in Idlib, Al-Golani’s journey into militancy began during the 2003 Iraq war, where he joined the insurgency against US forces and fell in with networks associated with Al-Qaeda.

By 2011, as Syria was plunged into civil war, Al-Golani returned to his home country to establish Jabhat Al-Nusra as Syria’s Al-Qaeda affiliate, which quickly gained a reputation for its battlefield prowess and hardline tactics.

A pivotal shift occurred in 2016 when Jabhat Al-Nusra broke ties with Al-Qaeda, rebranding first as Jabhat Fatah Al-Sham and later as HTS. This strategic realignment was designed to more closely integrate the group with the local opposition and distance it from its extremist roots.

“The Syrian opposition has a huge image problem,” Nadim Shehadi, an economist and political adviser who has held positions in academia and think tanks in Europe and the US, told Arab News.

“At one stage it had even lost confidence in itself. It has been described as fundamentalist and associated with Al-Qaeda and Daesh on the one hand and its leadership gave the impression of fragmented and corrupt.

“The regime and its supporters and allies were masters of disinformation and were successful in convincing the world that there was no credible alternative and that after it will come chaos. Russian and Iranian sponsored media played an important role.”

Under Al-Golani’s leadership, HTS aimed to present itself not only as a militant organization but as a legitimate governing entity. In Idlib, which remained under HTS control over the course of the conflict, the group established the Syrian Salvation Government.

This governance structure allowed the group to take on civil administrative roles, providing services and infrastructure repairs, while ensuring some level of order in an area scarred by conflict.

Al-Golani’s public appearances and outreach efforts showcase his ambition to redefine HTS as a nationalist force, engaging with local communities and presenting the group as a viable alternative to both the Assad regime and foreign terrorist organizations.

In 2021, Al-Golani conducted interviews with various media outlets, including Western platforms, aiming to shift perceptions of HTS and express a willingness to engage with broader political processes.

This strategy reflected a calculated attempt to distance his group from operating as a purely extremist entity while emphasizing its commitment to local governance and plurality.

“Al-Golani is trying to change his image with a surprisingly efficient social media campaign focusing on HTS itself as much as on his own personality,” said Shehadi.

“We see them forgiving regime soldiers and releasing prisoners. This is far more effective than one promoting him as a leader or a personality. It would be an emulation of the Assads.

“They are specifically countering rumors about the persecution of minorities. It feels like a professionally run strategic communications campaign. Except for the odd slip here and there.”

Experts view these efforts as indicative of Al-Golani’s understanding that governance and political legitimacy can provide stability and potentially foster reconciliation.

“Al-Golani’s outreach reflects an ambition to redefine HTS as a nationalistic force, seeking to align with local and possibly even regional interests,” said Lina Khatib, director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House.

Syria’s neighbors are still unsure what to make of Al-Golani. The perspectives of Arab governments concerning HTS are complex and multifaceted, with the spectrum of opinions ranging from staunch opposition to cautious engagement.

Many Arab countries officially condemn extremist groups, especially those with Islamist roots. However, the geopolitical realities often force these nations to engage pragmatically.

Countries such as Turkiye have interacted with HTS, long recognizing its influence over bordering Idlib and its potential role as a counterbalance to both the Assad regime and the Kurdish forces in control of northeast Syria.

However, many remain wary of the group’s true intentions, fearing the emergence of a regime akin to the Taliban in Afghanistan.

“Is Al-Golani’s pragmatism genuine, and more importantly, is it widely accepted within the ranks of his group?” Ammar Abdulhamid, Syrian-American pro-democracy activist, said in a series of posts on X.

“Can he maintain enough influence to contain radical factions advocating for the imposition of Sharia law or pushing for aggressive campaigns against Israel and Saudi Arabia?”

Israel in particular is acutely aware of the potential threat posed by the collapse of the Assad regime and the emergence of a powerful hostile force on its doorstep.

“With Israel now actively bombing military bases and airports and creating a buffer zone inside Syrian territories, how will Al-Golani respond?” asked Abdulhamid.

“He will likely face pressure from radical groups to take action or at least issue a defiant statement. However, even rhetorical escalation risks inviting further strikes and dragging Syria into a broader conflict it cannot afford.”

He added: “Will Al-Golani eventually pursue peace with Israel, if not now, then at some point in the future?”

There is also the question of how he will handle ongoing crises within Syria itself, such as that playing out between Turkiye and Turkish-backed opposition groups and the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, which control the Kurdish-majority Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria.

“How does he plan to handle the Kurdish issue, knowing that Turkish-backed factions are dedicated to fighting the Kurds?” said Abdulhamid. “With battles ongoing and the potential for further escalation, navigating this remains a critical and delicate challenge.”

He added: “These challenges will test Al-Golani’s leadership, his pragmatism, and his ability to balance internal and external pressures.

“They will also shape his vision for Syria’s future. The Syrian people, as well as regional neighbors and the international community, will need clear reassurances on all these fronts.”

Although it is officially classified as a terrorist organization by several nations, HTS will now play a crucial role in the dynamics of the region, complicating the response of Arab states eager to restore some measure of stability to Syria.

“Abu Muhammad Al-Golani remains a figure surrounded by skepticism, even as he attempts to reshape his public image,” Faisal Ibrahim Al-Shammari, a political analyst and commentator, told Arab News.

“While his rhetoric and actions in recent years signal a departure from his extremist beginnings, it is difficult to fully separate his current persona from his well-documented past.

“The skepticism stems from his history with Al-Qaeda and his role in creating Al-Nusra Front, which terrorized Syria during its affiliation with the global terror network. Rebranding as HTS might appear as a strategic pivot, but is it a genuine ideological transformation or simply an act of convenience to appeal to international observers?

“Yet, hope cannot be entirely discounted. Leaders evolve under pressure, and contexts change. If Al-Golani is sincere in his stated commitment to a more inclusive and democratic Syria, this shift would be a remarkable turn. But history warns us against naivety. True change must be proven by sustained action, not just rebranding or tactical concessions.

“The question of trust lingers. Can someone with a history of extremism and violence truly reform? The optimist would say yes, given the right circumstances. The realist, however, must insist on vigilance, demanding not just words but concrete actions that demonstrate a commitment to peace, justice, and inclusion.

“Until then, hope must be tempered with caution, as the stakes for Syria and the region are far too high to afford misplaced trust.”

Abu Mohammad Al-Golani’s journey from militant to political actor illustrates the adaptability required in the complex Syrian context. His efforts to maintain relevance amid a chaotic landscape have hinged on navigating both local dynamics and regional geopolitical interests.

His future, and that of his organization, will depend on the broader regional approach to Syria’s enduring crisis, marked by shifting allegiances, and intricate political calculations.

His legacy will ultimately be shaped by these complex interplays, as regional stakeholders grapple with the implications of HTS’s evolving role in national and regional affairs.

AN, Dec 9, 2024