Syrian rebel leader tells a woman to cover her hair if she wants a photo with him

The leader of the Syrian rebel group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, has been involved in an event that has caused widespread discussion.

During a visit to a refugee camp in northern Syria, a young woman expressed a desire to take a picture with him. According to reports, al-Jolani asked the woman to cover her hair before taking the picture.

The moment has attracted the attention of media and social media users, fueling debates about religious and social norms in HTS-controlled territories.

Syrian rebel leader al-Joulani tells a woman to cover her hair if she wants to take a picture with him pic.twitter.com/S4t4Dmj4wi

- Visegrad 24 (@ visegrad24) December 14, 2024

Some have interpreted the move as an example of the group's conservative policies, while others have seen it as a personal request related to al-Joulani's religious beliefs.

The event comes at a time when HTS is trying to strengthen its image in the international arena.

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While the organization was once linked to al-Qaeda, it has tended to distance itself from extremist groups, trying to project a more political and less radical profile.

This situation shows the ongoing tensions between tradition and social change in areas affected by the Syrian conflict, reflecting the complexity of the interactions between religious leaders, rebel fighters and the local population. /Telegraph/