5 facts about Syria’s Islamist rebel group HTS and its leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani

3. HTS implemented Sharia law in regions it governed

The Guardian reports that in Idlib province, where it established the Syrian Salvation Government to oversee governance, his administration imposed strict Islamic social norms while seeking to present itself as a stabilizing force in the region.

According to Middle East Eye, the Salvation Government enforced gender segregation in schools and encouraged the wearing of the hijab for women, though it stopped short of mandating niqabs. Aymenn Jawad al-Tamimi, an expert on Syrian armed groups, noted that “Idlib has strong religious norms,” which are reflected in the policies promoted by HTS’ administration.

In some cases, the Salvation Government’s provoked criticism from rights groups. In August, for instance, it shut down a Paralympic event organized for disabled individuals in Idlib after religious jurists linked certain elements of the opening ceremony to “pagan beliefs.” The Syrian Network for Human Rights condemned the decision, stating that it perpetuated the Salvation Government’s restrictive policies.

HTS was also accused of suppressing dissent through arbitrary arrests and violence.