Canada Removes Hayat Tahrir al-Sham from Terrorist List Following U.S. Move
The Canadian government has removed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from its official list of terrorist organizations, following a similar decision by the United States. The group, led in recent years by Abu Mohammad al-Julani, has operated in parts of Syria and has been accused of widespread violence and serious human rights violations in areas under its control.
Canada also announced that it has taken Syria off its list of “state sponsors of terrorism.” Canadian officials justified the move by saying it aims to support the efforts of the so-called local government in northern Syria in establishing stability and security in the region.
This decision comes amid the complex developments in Syria following years of conflict against the regime of Bashar al-Assad. Many areas of the country have seen deadly violence and escalating clashes. HTS, which has historical ties to al-Qaeda, has been accused of committing grave violations against civilians.
It is worth noting that just a few weeks ago, the United States also removed the group’s leader, Abu Mohammad al-Julani, from its list of designated global terrorists—a move that sparked criticism from human rights organizations and political analysts.
Observers warn that removing such groups from terrorist lists without thoroughly assessing their role on the battlefield and their human rights record could send a dangerous message to war victims and communities suffering from extremism.
