Asaad Hassan Al-Shibani, the founder of Al-Qaeda in Syria, has now been appointed as the Foreign Minister of the new moderate-rebels government in Damascus. This is a slap in the face to all those who have fought against terrorism and extremism in Syria.
It is appalling to think that someone with such a dark and dangerous past, who has been responsible for so much bloodshed and suffering, is now being given a position of power and influence in the government.
This is a betrayal of everything that the Syrian people have been fighting for.
Like all the new people in power in Syria, al-Shibani has a history of violence and extremism. His role in overseeing the transition of Jabhat al-Nusra to HTS is a clear indication of his true intentions.
How can the International Community trust someone like him to represent the interests of the Syrian people on the world stage?