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Interview with Zahran Alloush, the leader of Jaysh al-Islam.
TDB: Do you think you have been wrongly accused of kidnapping Razan
Zaytouneh and have you arrested those who kidnapped her?
ZA: The case of Razan Zaytouneh has been used to demonize Jaysh al-Islam
by many sides. Most people do not know that Jaysh al-Islam facilitated
Zaytouneh’s entrance into Eastern Ghouta through the martyr Mohamed
Adas, manager of the office of [Syrian regime] defectors in Jaysh
al-Islam. We offered to protect Zaytouneh because many sides might be
upset by her work, but she preferred to work independently. Why would we
bring her in and then kidnap her? It is illogical. As for the arrest of
those who kidnapped her, this is also not true. When we figure out who
the kidnappers are, they will immediately appear in court.
TDB: Do you apply Sharia law in the areas you control? What are your
views on democracy and the future of Syria?
ZA: Jaysh al-Islam does not intervene in the judiciary body in our
areas. We have representatives in the judiciary councils. The judiciary
councils include many sheikhs and jurists who represent the diversity of
our community. We believe in the rule of institutions.
When I criticized democracy, I was referring to the manipulation of
people through lies covered by attractive colors. The democracy of
Assad, the pluralism of the Baath, and the Islamism of ISIS are a few
examples. The Western double standards are also applied to democracy.
While democracy is used to serve people’s interests in the West,
democracy is manipulated in our countries to bring villains to rule as
agents for outside powers. We believe that the future of Syria after
Assad should be governed by a technocratic body which has the skills and
the qualifications. We do not believe that Syria should be ruled by
sectarian or partisan rule, but by a technocratic body that represent
the diversity of the Syrian people. We do not see ourselves as Islamic.
We are Muslims.
TDB: Erbin, a town in Ghouta, includes many Christians. How do you treat
the Christians in your area? Is it true that the Christians prefer Assad
to the rule of the opposition?
ZA: The Christians have been living in Syria for hundreds of years and
they have contributed to the enlightenment of Syria. The Syrian
revolution core was the freedom and equality of all Syrian regardless to
their religion. The regime of Assad is the main contributor to the
misery of the Christians. The regime of Assad has enforced many
restrictions on the Syrian Christians, and forced many of them to leave
and to close their businesses due to Assad’s so-called social economic
policy.
full:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/12/15/the-rebel-commander-of-damascus.html
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