HTS makes rival jihadis in Syria's Idlib take Sharia courses, give up weapons
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham managed to eliminate the jihadist Jundallah organization, forcing its operatives to hand over their weapons and take Sharia courses.
ALEPPO, Syria — Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which controls Idlib province in northwestern Syria, reached a security settlement agreement with the Jundallah organization, which HTS calls Abu Fatima al-Turki.
According to the settlement that was announced Nov. 7 via Telegram, Jundallah’s operatives must hand over their personal weapons to HTS and undergo a Sharia training course under the supervision of the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP). They will be allowed to live as civilians in HTS-controlled areas.
An official close to HTS who spoke on condition of anonymity told Al-Monitor, “HTS leadership decided to close the chapter on Jundallah by imposing a new settlement, forcing its operatives to hand over all their weapons and undergo mandatory Sharia courses to correct their Sharia perception in several matters, and point out the breaches they committed.”
“The organization’s members who fought HTS during its attack on their strongholds in Jabal al-Turkman area were granted amnesty and the public litigation against them was dropped. Those who face personal charges by civilians were referred to the Sharia judiciary to look into the different cases,” he added.
