Ahmad al-Chareh, former leader of the Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTC) which took charge of Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, received the French and German foreign ministers in Damascus this Friday . His choice to shake Jean-Noël Barrot’s hand but not that of Annalena Baerbock caused controversy.
An image that caused controversy. Propelled to the head of the country after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, Ahmad al-Chareh made headlines this Friday by refusing to shake hands with Annalena Baerbock, the German Minister of Foreign Affairs, during a visit organized to Damascus.
The former leader of the Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Cham (HTC), known at that time as Mohammed al-Joulani, first greeted Jean-Noël Barrot with a handshake, before greeting from a distance the German minister.
The controversy is growing in France
Whistleblower and feminist Charlotte Rocher protested Annalena Baerbock’s lack of reaction to what she considers to be a blatant lack of respect.
“In what world does German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock agree to be humiliated by al-Joulani and his sect of Islamists. Equality between men and women is a non-negotiable universal value, we do not have to tolerate their hatred of women,” said the feminist on X.
Jean Messiha, the president of the “Vivre Français” think tank, strongly criticized the attitude of the Syrian leader and political observers who have defended his progressivism in recent weeks.
“The left-wing “progressives” nevertheless claimed that Al-Sharaa was a progressive secularist… The leftist lies are taking less and less time to fall…”, regretted Jean Messiha.
“A new political departure between Europe and Syria”
This visit by the two European Ministers of Foreign Affairs was, however, a historic turning point in international relations with Syria, because it was the first by important members of European countries since the new leaders came to power.
“We all know it will be a bumpy road. My trip today with my French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot on behalf of the EU is a clear signal: a new political departure between Europe and Syria, between Germany and Syria is possible,” assured the German minister on X this earlier Friday morning.
In a message published on the same social network, Jean-Noël Barrot reaffirmed that France and Germany stand “alongside the Syrian people, in all their diversity” in order to promote a peaceful transition.
Before this meeting leading to this controversial reception, the ministers went to Saydnaya prison, near Damascus, a symbol of repression under the regime of Bashar al-Assad.
