‘We Haven’t Committed Any Crime That Justifies Calling Us A Terrorìst Group’ – Ahmed Al-Sharaa

The leader of Hayat Tahir Al-Sham (HTS), Ahmed Al-Sharaa, has strongly contested his organization’s classification as a terrorist group during a recent BBC News interview from 4:22.

“To call me the leader of a terrorist group is a political classification,” Al-Sharaa stated, defending his organization’s record. “We haven’t committed any crime that justifies calling us a terrorist group in the last 14 years. We haven’t targeted any civilian areas or civilian targets.”

While acknowledging international concerns about the new take-over from the Bashar al-Assad regime, Al-Sharaa pushed for a reevaluation of HTS’s status. “I understand some countries will be worried by that designation, but it’s not true now,” he said.

He further argued for sanctions relief from the International community, stating, “After all that has happened, sanctions must be lifted because they were targeted at the old regime. The victim and the oppressor should not be treated in the same way now.”