Macron hosts the Syrian president, associated with jihadist affiliations, in Paris

Image: Jihad Watch

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met with French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday during his first European visit since the removal of Bashar al-Assad, despite ongoing concerns about deadly clashes that have overshadowed the new administration's early months in power.

Prior to their high-profile meeting at the Elysee Palace, Sharaa, along with his foreign minister, held a meeting with a whistleblower who had been instrumental in documenting the severe torture under Assad's regime.

The Syrian presidency confirmed that Sharaa and Assaad al-Shibani "met with Farid al-Madhan, also known as 'Caesar'."

Sharaa and other prominent Syrian leaders, who assumed power after Assad’s fall in December, have ties to the Al-Qaeda jihadist network. They face pressure from Europe to demonstrate their commitment to human rights protection, as Damascus seeks the full removal of sanctions imposed during Assad’s rule following 14 years of brutal conflict.

Madhan, who fled Syria in 2013 with over 55,000 graphic images, revealed his identity in February during an Al Jazeera interview. The photographs, which showed emaciated bodies and victims with gouged eyes, contributed to the 2020 U.S. law imposing economic sanctions on Syria and initiating legal actions against Assad's associates in Europe.

During his visit to Paris, Sharaa is expected to discuss post-war reconstruction and potential economic collaboration, according to a Syrian government official.

"The meeting is part of France's historic commitment to the Syrian people, who aspire to peace and democracy," stated the Elysee Palace.

Macron, by hosting Sharaa, hopes to assist the Syrian authorities in their path toward "a free, stable, and sovereign Syria that respects all components of Syrian society," a French presidential official told AFP.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)