Tue Feb 25 09:28:42 UTC 2025: ## Syria’s HTS Holds National Dialogue Amidst Scepticism Over Democratic Transition

**Damascus, Syria** – Syria’s de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, opened a national dialogue on Tuesday, billed as a crucial step towards a democratic transition. Al-Sharaa pledged to establish a transitional justice body and reiterated his commitment to a unified Syria with state control over weapons. The single-day conference in Damascus brought together approximately 600 participants to discuss transitional justice, a new constitution, institutional reform, and economic recovery.

However, the event has been met with widespread scepticism. Critics point to the rushed nature of the conference, with invitations sent out just days before the event, leaving many, including exiled opposition figures, unable to attend. The short timeframe and the single-day schedule have fuelled concerns that the process is merely a symbolic gesture.

Minority groups, including Kurds, Christians, and Druze, have expressed deep reservations, with some describing their representation as “tokenistic.” A joint statement from 35 parties within the autonomous Kurdish administration condemned the conference’s lack of meaningful inclusion. Concerns remain about the HTS’s past affiliations with al-Qaeda, despite al-Sharaa’s pronouncements of coexistence.

Ordinary citizens also expressed doubts. Dalia Dalati, a displaced public employee, voiced pessimism regarding the conference’s potential for positive change, citing the ongoing precarious economic and security situations. While some attendees, like Judge Iman Shahoud, expressed optimism about the diverse representation present, others, like Orthodox Archbishop Elia Tohme, remained cautiously noncommittal.

The international community is closely watching the outcome, as it considers whether to lift sanctions imposed during Bashar al-Assad’s rule. While the conference’s recommendations are non-binding, the creation of a new constitution – a key expected deliverable – remains highly uncertain given the compressed timeframe. The event’s ultimate success in fostering a genuine democratic transition in Syria remains deeply questionable.

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