Serin Mohammed

Aleppo – Syria is going through a critical new phase amid the policies imposed by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham under the banner of the Interim Government. Recently, the closure of the Deir Hafer–Aleppo road disrupted civilian traffic and commercial transport.

Mona Abdul Hamid said:

“It is unfortunate that the name of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is being used instead of a government that was supposed to lead a new phase of openness after the fall of the previous regime. For us, nothing has changed — civilians continue to pay the price of wrong policies.”

She pointed out that the continuous targeting of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh neighborhoods has not stopped even after the fall of the regime:
“Just a year ago, the Fourth Division imposed a blockade on these neighborhoods, restricting civilian movement, commercial goods, and even medical supplies. Today, with the Interim Government, violations continue in another form.”

Broken Promises

After the fall of the regime, residents hoped that the era of exclusion and targeting would finally end, but optimism quickly faded. Abdul Hamid explained:
“We were hopeful, but today we clearly see foreign agendas at play, especially Turkish interference. Syria should have a fully sovereign government — not one that is dictated by outside forces.”

Imposed Agendas

She added that today’s reality proves that Turkish and regional agendas are being forced upon the Interim Government:
“All these practices contradict the April 1 agreement, which explicitly stated that the Ministry of Interior, in cooperation with internal security forces, is responsible for protecting residents and preventing any attacks. Instead, what we see now is a new blockade, illegal tolls imposed on drivers, and restrictions on essential goods.”

Civilians Should Be Left Out of Politics

Abdul Hamid stressed that failing to comply with the agreement is being used as a tool to pressure the Autonomous Administration and residents of the neighborhoods:
“As a women’s organization, we affirm that civilians have nothing to do with political disputes. They must be kept away from these conflicts.”

A Call for Unity

She concluded with a clear message:
“No to division, no to centralization, yes to the diversity of Syrian components. Enough oppression, enough marginalization, enough blockades. As Syrians, we want to live in safety and peace with all communities, to build a new Syria for all.”