‘Come back home’: Syria’s caretaker PM vows reform, rights for all communities
The Syrian rebels now in power in Damascus have appointed Mohammed al-Bashir as head of a transitional government that will be in place until March 1, state media said on December 10, 2024. | Photo Credit: AFP
Syria’s caretaker prime minister, Mohamed al Bashir, has pledged to protect the rights of all communities in Syria, distancing his government from extremist ideologies.
Speaking with Corriere Della Sera, Bashir rejected associations with Al Qaeda, stating they had “distorted the true meaning of Islam” and urged the West to avoid linking Muslims with terrorism.
“Precisely because we are Islamic, we will guarantee the rights of all people and all communities in Syria,” Bashir affirmed.
When asked about potential peace with Israel amidst hostility toward Iran, Hezbollah, and Russia, Bashir declined to comment, leaving the interview abruptly. He later criticized war criminals linked to the ousted Assad regime, accusing them of atrocities like torture, killings, and mass disappearances, adding they would face Syrian justice.
Acknowledging Syria’s severe financial crisis, Bashir described a nation burdened by corruption, massive debt, and a collapsing currency. He noted that the government holds no foreign currency reserves, with 35,000 Syrian pounds equating to one US dollar.
Bashir outlined his immediate goals: re-establishing state authority, repatriating millions of refugees, and restoring essential services like electricity, food, and water.
“My appeal goes out to all Syrians abroad: Syria is now a free country that has regained its pride and dignity. Come back. We need to rebuild,” he said.
Since Assad’s fall, millions of Syrians have fled abroad, prompting countries like the UK and others in Europe to freeze asylum claims while reassessing the situation.
