Syria: Islamist leader offers bounty on Assad henchmen – and wants to publish list

After the overthrow of ruler Bashar al-Assad in Syria, the leader of the victorious Islamist fighters announced that he would publish a list of ex-officials involved in torture. The list to be published by the future Syrian authorities will contain “the names of the highest-ranking officials involved in the torture of the Syrian people,” wrote Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, head of the Islamist militia Hajat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). on Tuesday in the Telegram online service.

“We will offer rewards to anyone who provides information about high-ranking army and security officers involved in war crimes,” al-Jolani continued, using his real name, Ahmed al-Sharaa. “We will prosecute war criminals and demand that they be extradited from the countries to which they have fled so that they can receive their just punishment.”

“We have committed ourselves to be tolerant towards those who do not have the blood of the Syrian people on their hands, and we have granted amnesty to those who were obliged to perform compulsory service,” the HTS chief continued.

Fighters led by the HTS conquered Damascus at the weekend and overthrew long-time ruler Assad. The capture of the Syrian capital was preceded by a rapid advance by the militias through the country. At the same time, Turkey resumed its attacks on Kurdish-controlled areas.