The controversial Syrian president Ahmed Alshara arrived in Paris on Wednesday to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron.
This marks Alshara’s first official visit to Europe since taking office in the post-Assad era. A spokesperson for Macron noted that the discussion would aim at promoting “a free, stable, sovereign Syria that respects all segments of society,” with an emphasis on combating terrorism and enhancing regional stability.
Following the meeting, the Élysée Palace mentioned that Alshara left with some dissatisfaction, noting he was not naive enough to think that an invitation aimed at Syrians would ensure civilian protection.
President Ahmed Al-Shara has a history with Al-Qaeda and currently leads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an offshoot of Al-Qaeda, that governs the Syrian “interim” government. The cabinet includes UN-sanctioned figures, such as San Hattab. Some Western nations are moving quickly to provide justifications for supporting Syria post-Assad.
Although Alshara is portrayed as a more moderate representative for Syria, reports indicate there have been violent incidents targeting the Alawite and minority communities since he took power. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has notably advocated for lifting sanctions against Syria.
It’s worth mentioning that Alshara is still subject to a UN travel ban due to terrorist sanctions, forcing France to seek a UN exemption for his Paris visit.
French political figures, including Marion Maréchal and Marine Le Pen, criticized Macron’s decision to meet Alshara, dubbing it a “handshake of shame.” They expressed that welcoming a former terrorist leader constitutes a betrayal of jihadism’s victims.
Le Pen also criticized the decision, calling it foolish to engage with someone associated with a group that poses a threat to France.
