The end of Jihadi Salafism? The religious governance of HTS, the Post-Jihadi rebel ruler in Northern Syria

Jihadis differentiate themselves from other Muslims by their demand for an Islamic state based on their interpretation of Islamic law as well as their legitimization of violence against Muslim domestic regimes and, occasionally, Western countries for supporting them. Over the past decade, they have increasingly governed civilians with harsh governance featuring physical punishments and discriminatory measures against women and religious minorities. But this is not always the case. In Syria, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former affiliate of Islamic State (IS) and Al-Qaeda previously known as Jabhat al-Nusra, took on a very different governing role in the northwest of the country. In contrast to other Jihadis, HTS has distanced itself from its Jihadi legacy after seizing power. As the group relocalised, it has established new structures of governance that are more technocratic than ideological though they feature religion too. This paper analyses HTS’s policies, from its rejection of its Jihadi legacy to the group’s understanding of Islamic law and interactions with local communities, including religious minorities. This article is based on extensive research conducted in northwest Syria, including numerous interviews with the HTS leadership, its supported government, other armed groups, and civil society organizations.