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On March 12, 2025, the Presidency of the Syrian Arab Republic released a photoset showing President Ahmed Al-Sharaa – who had previously headed jihadi group Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) under the nom de guerre Abu Muhammad Al-Joulani – receiving a delegation from the Qatar-based International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, in Damascus.[1]
In addition to the nine members of the IUMS delegation, the meeting's attendees also included chief HTS religious official 'Abd Al-Rahim 'Atoun and senior HTS religious official Mazhar Al-Ways.
The IUMS published an article on its website[2] reporting that on the morning of March 12, a "high-ranking delegation" from the group carried out an official visit to Syria and met with President Al-Sharaa at the People's Place in Damascus.
The delegation was headed by IUMS President Sheikh Ali Al-Qaradaghi, and included Essam Al-Bashir from Sudan, Mohammad Al-Hasan Al-Dido from Mauritania, and Muhammed Gurmaz from Turkey, all three IUMS vice presidents; secretary-general Ali Al-Sallabi from Libya; assistant secretary-general Sultan Al-Hashmi from Qatar; Osama Al-Rifai, a member of IUMS' general secretariat and the Grand Mufti of Syria; Mohammed Al-Sagheer from Egypt, a member of the group's board of trustees; and Muhammad Al-Yafei, the director of the IUMS branch in Qatar.
The delegation congratulated Al-Sharaa on the "victories" that have been achieved in Syria and expressed support for "national reconciliation and the agreement reached between the government and various sects and factions," strengthening Syria's stability and unity. Al-Sharaa extended a "warm welcome" to the delegation, praising the role played by Islamic scholars in "supporting nations and strengthening social cohesion," and expressing appreciation for the stances of the IUMS and its clerics.
That evening, Al-Sharaa hosted an iftar banquet for the delegation to break their Ramadan fast.
Praising the "warm reception and generous hospitality" it received, the IUMS delegation presented Al-Sharaa with "symbolic gifts."
The clerics offered their readiness to aid "developmental, economic, and social projects" in Syria, stating that the country is entering "a new stage in which peace, unity, and harmony between the hearts of all its elements reign." Emphasizing that the IUMS continues to closely follow events in Syria and "[continued to] support its steadfastness until the regime of tyranny disappeared and the sun of liberty shone," they declared the group's support for "the Syrian government and people."
The IUMS article affirmed the group's continued "efforts to support national accord and development in Syria," offering backing in various areas to help strengthen "national security, stability, and unity." It also reported that the delegation is scheduled to hold a press conference at its headquarters in the Qatari capital, Doha, on the afternoon of March 13.
It should be noted that unconfirmed reports in mid-February stated that the new Syrian administration had ordered the Syrian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood to freeze its activities in the country.[3]
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