/leftypol/ - Leftist Politically Incorrect

Unfortunately, I've seen quite a few people, particularly campists, argue that the Assad family was a better alternative to Ahmed al-Sharaa's administration, largely because the former maintained close relations with Russia and Iran and was seen as a bastion against American imperialism. Personally, as someone who opposes imperialism regardless of where it comes from, whether it's the West, the Middle East, Russia, or elsewhere. I find it rather tragic that these people seem to be missing the forest for the trees. They're so focused on the geopolitical allegiances of the Assad regime that they overlook how its policies and actions actually affected the Syrian people. Just because a government opposes American imperialism doesn't mean it can't engage in oppression or facilitate imperialism itself.

But going back to the main topic, I do consider Ahmed al-Sharaa a slightly better alternative to the Assad family, although that doesn't mean I'm giving his administration a free pass. While I'm not aware of any conclusive evidence that al-Sharaa personally ordered the massacres of ethnic and religious minorities, particularly Alawites and Druze, forces affiliated with his government have been implicated in these atrocities. There have also been serious concerns about the treatment of Kurds, particularly during the fighting between government forces and the SDF.

I understand that al-Sharaa doesn't necessarily have complete control over every armed faction operating under his government, especially given how fragmented Syria became during the civil war. However, that doesn't absolve his administration of responsibility for protecting civilians or holding those responsible for these atrocities accountable. I also think it's worth recognizing that Syria is emerging from decades of authoritarian rule under the Assad family, followed by more than a decade of civil war. I don't expect the country to become a functioning liberal democracy overnight, but I do think it's reasonable to expect its new leadership to genuinely commit to protecting minorities and allowing political dissent.

Regarding his domestic legislative initiatives, I think some of the changes introduced under his administration are worth acknowledging. For instance, his government established commissions to investigate crimes committed under the Assad regime and locate missing Syrians. In January 2026, al-Sharaa also issued a decree recognizing Kurdish cultural and linguistic rights, granting citizenship to Kurds affected by the discriminatory 1962 census, and making Nowruz a national holiday. More recently, Syria's transitional parliament voted to abolish the notorious Counter-Terrorism Court that Assad used to prosecute political opponents.

However, I still have reservations about the amount of power concentrated in al-Sharaa's presidency. Although the transitional constitutional declaration provides certain protections for civil liberties, it also gives him considerable influence over the legislature and judiciary. I'm also concerned that the transitional justice process primarily focuses on crimes committed by the Assad regime rather than abuses committed by other armed groups, including those affiliated with the current government. I do think there is a difference between recognizing that some progress has been made and assuming that Syria is inevitably heading toward democracy. Ultimately, I think what matters is whether these reforms actually translate into meaningful protections for ordinary Syrians, regardless of their religious, ethnic, or political backgrounds.

What are your thoughts/feelings regarding the man?