Canada removes Syria from list of foreign state sponsors of terrorism – nationally

Canada has removed Syria from its list of foreign sponsors of terrorism after a “comprehensive” review, federal officials announced Friday, marking a major change in the Middle East.

Ottawa is also removing Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), the group that led the Rebellion last year, from its list of terrorist entities under the Criminal Code, said a joint statement by Foreign Affairs Minister Gary Anandasangareee and the Minister of Public Security.

“These decisions were not taken lightly; the safety and security of Canadians will remain a top priority for the Canadian government,” the statement said.

The move marks the latest warming of relations between the G7 Nations and Syria following the collapse of Bashar Al-Assad’s regime, which brought a long and brutal war to a close.

The new president of Syria, Ahmad Al-Sharaa, was the leader of HTS during the civil war and was once aligned with al-Qaida, before breaking ties with the group in 2016.

The Canadian terrorist group HTS described it as “an Islamic group in Syria that is a cover for the first one that has carried President Bashar Al-Assad’s regime in Syria which is followed by Islamic law under Sharia law.”

Al-Sharaa – formerly known as Abu Muhammad al-Golani before revealing his real name when it entered Damascus last year – has dissociated itself from al-Qaida and ISIS, and has vowed to create a modern and “institutional” government.

Since coming to power, Al-Sharaa has successfully sought to restore ties with Arab countries and the West. He met with US President Donald Trump twice this year, including at the White House in November, where Syria joined the global coalition to fight the Islamic group.

The visit to the White House marked the first by the Syrian head of state since Syria gained independence from France in 1946.

The United States and the United Kingdom lifted their own terrorism designations for both Syria and HTS earlier this year, while Trump and the United Nations Security Council have begun to remove some of the sanctions placed on the country.

Last winter, Canada temporarily halted some of its destruction in Syria after seeking frequent financial services to aid in the civil war.

Syria held its first parliamentary elections under the new government this fall, and Al-Sharaa has promised that presidential elections will take place within five years.

“Canada welcomes the positive steps taken by the government of the Syrian Transitional Council since the end of the Assad regime in the political transition of Syria,” Anand said in a statement on Friday. “Canada stands firmly with the people of Syria in their quest for an inclusive, stable and prosperous future.”

Anandasangaree added that Canada “will continue to monitor the situation in Syria and take action against violent or terrorist activity by Isis and Al-Qaida that harms Canada, our citizens and our interests around the world.”

While relations with Syria have improved, Al-Sharaa still faces challenges.

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The severe destruction of Syria in Syria still needs to be approved from the conference should be removed, withdrawing the worst investments and efforts to revive the Syrian economy.

Canada still imposes targeted sanctions on 56 organizations in Syria and 225 individuals, including people Ottawa says are senior officials of the former regime’s former regime.

Al-Sharaa’s rule has been shaken by two major acts of violence that have led Sunni Muslim fighters loyal to his government against minority members, who have tested his pledge to protect their rights and build a new unified order.

In March, more than 1,000 people were killed in an attack by Sunni fighters in a deadly attack on security forces by commanders once loyal to Assad, himself.

In July, more than 1,000 people – most of them – were reportedly killed in violence between government forces and bedouin fighters against Swedes in Sweida.

Al-Sharaa promised to take responsibility for the violence and for his Government to investigate.

The head of Amnesty International told the media last month after visiting Damascus that the new Syrian government is taking steps to reform, but the addition of democracy is still lacking and the latter is “shallow.”

Israel, suspecting ly-sharaa’s jihadist roots, has bombed several times in the south with the stated purpose of preventing critical border attacks. The attack in Israel last week killed 13 people.

The two countries, which have no diplomatic relations, have been discussing a possible security agreement.

-With files from Uday Rana Global, Canadian Press, Associated Press and Reuters

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