Syria: The ruling group HTS is already included in the list of terrorists, what will happen in such a situation? – eSHOP24X7

At the height of the civil war in Syria, the Security Council passed a major resolution on Syria, declaring HTS a terrorist group.

Resolution 2254, adopted unanimously by the Council in 2015, called on member states to “prevent and suppress terrorist acts, in particular those committed by HTS’s predecessor, the al-Nusra Front.”

So, could this fact hamper international or UN-led negotiations with HTS and efforts to build strong and inclusive institutions and maintain stability and peace in Syria?

On the other hand, what will HTS have to do to get out of the category of terrorist organizations?

UN News spoke in detail about these issues with Kiho Cha, a senior official at the United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs.

UN News asked him how the Security Council sanctions any group or individual and what the rules are for officially removing them from the list.

Kiho Cha: HTS was designated a terrorist organization in May 2014 after the Security Council Committee overseeing sanctions against ISIL (Daesh) and Al Qaeda and its affiliates assessed it as a terrorist organization whose links are linked to Al Qaeda.

In July 2024, the Committee’s monitoring team said in a report that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is a major terrorist group in northwestern Syria.

This list also included its alleged leader, Mohammed al-Jolani, although his name has been on the list since 2013.

UN News: What impact has the listing of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) as a terrorist organization had on your activities?

Kiho Cha: Three sanctions have been imposed: asset freeze, travel ban and weapons purchase ban.

This means that at the international level all member countries are expected to comply with these measures.

UN News: In addition to international sanctions, can any country impose sanctions at its own level?

Kiho Cha: Yes, but they have no connection with the United Nations. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), for example, is listed by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control.

UN News: What impact could the inclusion of HTS as a terrorist organization have on negotiations and agreements related to the future of the country?

Kiho Cha: Until some time ago, the question arose as to whether humanitarian organizations would be allowed to work in Syria. However, asset freezing measures against Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) have now been relaxed, allowing humanitarian organizations to continue their activities.

This provision was adopted just last week, a few days before the fall of the Assad government. This has proven to be a blessing for humanitarian organizations, because no one expected the situation in Syria to change like this.

Now humanitarian organizations can continue working there without fear of violating sanctions.

UN News: Are there other examples of this type of humanitarian exemption? Like in Afghanistan, where the Taliban have not received wide recognition internationally?

Kiho Cha: Yes, a provision for such a humanitarian exemption has been included in a Security Council resolution for Afghanistan. And this has also happened in other countries.

Of course, sanctions enforcement and compliance are important, but we also want to ensure that humanitarian aid arrives on time and that humanitarian organizations are free to operate without fear of sanctions violations.

UN News: Are such exemptions also granted to facilitate international negotiations?

Kiho Cha: Yes, there are generally procedures by which a petitioner (usually an individual) can request an exemption for various reasons.

For example, for Taliban members who said they needed to travel outside Afghanistan for political processes.

Apart from this, this exemption can also be granted for other reasons such as medical needs, or the petitioner can also apply for an exemption in case of property blocking.

UN News: What would it take to delist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and prevent it from being banned as a terrorist organization?

Kiho Cha: To do this, a member country must propose its removal from the list, which the Security Council will send to the corresponding committee. This committee, made up of representatives of the 15 member countries of the Security Council, must unanimously approve this proposal.

UN News: Has any such proposal been made yet?

Kiho Cha: Some member countries may be considering a proposal to remove HTS from the terrorist list, but no such request has been officially submitted so far.